The publication of Storia della letteratura italiana in 1870 established a foundational narrative for the study of national letters in the Kingdom of Italy. Francesco de Sanctis, born in 1817 in Morra De Sanctis, operated as a versatile intellectual whose career integrated literary criticism, professional pedagogy, and extended service within the Italian Chamber of Deputies across several decades.
Formative Education and Early Career
Raised in a family of middle-class landowners, De Sanctis pursued his secondary education in Naples. He later refined his intellectual approach at the institute led by Marquis Basilio Puoti. His pedagogical expertise eventually led him to establish a private school, where he garnered attention for his rigorous analysis of Italian literary traditions.
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De Sanctis actively participated in the political upheavals of 1848, an affiliation that resulted in a three-year period of imprisonment in Naples. Following his release, his reputation as a lecturer in Turin, particularly regarding the works of Dante Alighieri, facilitated his transition to a professorship at ETH Zurich in 1856.
Legislative and Ministerial Service
In 1861, De Sanctis began his tenure as a deputy in the Italian chamber, serving multiple terms between 1861 and 1882. He concurrently held the position of Minister of Public Education on three separate occasions: in 1861–1862, 1878, and finally from 1879 to 1881. In 1871, he accepted a professorship of comparative literature at the University of Naples Federico II.
Philosophical Contributions and Legacy
De Sanctis focused his philosophical efforts on the field of aesthetics. He became an advocate for Darwinism, incorporating the theory into his lectures. His critical studies and historical surveys, published in numerous volumes throughout the 1870s and 1880s, influenced subsequent generations of scholars, most notably Benedetto Croce, who emerged as one of his most prominent disciples.
Fast facts
- Born: 1817, Morra De Sanctis
- Died: 1883, Naples
- Citizenship: Kingdom of Italy
- Primary Occupations: writer, politician, literary critic, philosopher, philologist
- Ministerial Positions: 1861-1862, 1878, 1879-1881
- Academic Affiliation: University of Naples Federico II
- Key Publication: Storia della letteratura italiana (1870)
- Religion: Catholicism
Questions readers ask
What were the primary political roles held by Francesco de Sanctis?
He served multiple terms as a member of the Chamber of Deputies of the Kingdom of Italy between 1861 and 1882 and held the cabinet post of minister of Public Education during three distinct periods.
Which major academic institution employed De Sanctis?
He was a professor of comparative literature at the University of Naples Federico II and also held a professorship at ETH Zurich starting in 1856.
Achievements
- Held posts at University of Naples Federico II
