Page:Encyclopædia Britannica, Ninth Edition, v. 9.djvu/44

 F A R F A R FARINA, or PORTO FARINA, a town of the regency of Tunis, at the mouth of the Madjerda (the ancient Bagradas), about 15 miles E. of Bizerta or Binzert. It lies in a very fruitiful district, and was at one time the naval arsenal of Tunis ; but its harbour has become very shallow, in all probability by the elevation of the coast, and its importance has consequently declined. The ruins on the west side of the river are identified with the ancient Utica. Quicksilver is obtained from the neighbouring pro montory. Population about 9000. FARINATO, PAOLO (1522-1606), a painter and archi tect, was a native of Verona. He is sometimes named Farinato degli Uberti, as he came from the ancient Floren tine stock to which the Ghibelliue leader Farinata degli Uberti, celebrated in Dante s Commedia, belonged. He flourished at the same time that the art of Verona obtained its greatest lustre in the works of Paolo Cagliari (Paul Veronese), succeeded by other members of the Cagliari family, of whom most or all were outlived by Farinato. He was instructed by Niccol6 Giolfino, and probably by Antonio Badile and Brusasorci. Proceeding to Venice, he formed his style partly on Titian and Giorgione, though he was never conspicuous as a colourist, and in form he learned more from the works of Giulio Romano. His nude figures show knowledge of the antique ; he affected a bronzed tone in the complexions, harmonizing with the general gravity of his colour, which is more laudable in fresco than in oil-painting. Vasari praised his thronged compositions and merit of draughtsmanship. His works are to be found, not only in Venice and principally in Verona, but also in Mantua, Padua, and other towns belonging or adjacent to the Venetian territory. He was a prosperous and light-hearted man, and continually pro gressed in his art, passing from a comparatively dry manner into a larger and bolder one, with much attraction of drapery and of landscape. The Miracle of the Loaves and Fishes, painted in the church of S. Giorgio in Verona, is accounted his masterpiece ; it was executed at the advanced age of seventy-nine, and is of course replete with figures, comprising those of the painter s own family. A saloon was painted by him in S. Maria in Organo, in the same city, with the subjects of Michael expelling Lucifer, and the Massacre of the Innocents ; in Piacenza is a St Sixtus ; in the Berlin gallery a Presentation in the Temple ; and in the communal gallery of Verona one of his prime works, the Marriage of St Catherine. Farinato executed some sculptures, and various etchings of sacred and mytho- logic subjects; his works of all kinds were much in request, including the wax models which he wrought as studies for his painted figures. He is said to have died at the same hour as his wife. His son Orazio was also a painter of merit. FARINELLI (1705-1782), whose real name was CAULO BBOSCHI, one of the most extraordinary singers that ever lived, was born January 24, 1705, at Naples (Burney), or, according to Sacchi, his biographer, at Andria. Having been prepared for the career of a sopranist, he soon acquired a voice the beauty of which has never been sur passed, under the instruction of the celebrated Porpora. He bocame famous, while yet a boy, throughout southern Italy, where he was usually called il ragazzo ; and in 1722 he made his debut in &quot;Eomene,&quot; written by his master, at Rome, where he created the greatest astonishment by vying with a celebrated German trumpet-player in holding and swelling a note of prodigious length and power. In 1724 he appeared at Vienna, and at Venice in the following year, and returned to Naples shortly afterwards. He sang at Milan in 1726, and in 1727 at Bologna, where he met for the first time the great artist, Bernacchi, to whoso instruction [ he was indebted for some of his subsequent improvement. After revisiting Vienna, Farinelli, with ever-increasing sue- ! cess and fame, appeared in nearly all the great cities of Italy; and he returned a third time to Vienna in 1731. Here he received from Charles VI. a piece of sound criti cism and kindly advice, which led him to acquire a pathos in his singing which he had not till then possessed, hav ing hitherto always adhered to the florid, bravura style, peculiar to the school of Porpora. After making another tour of the Italian cities he came to London in 1734, arriving here in time to lend his powerful support to the faction which had just set up an opposition to Handel ; but not even his aid could make the undertaking successful, though he was assisted by Porpora and the celebrated Senesino. Having spent three years in England, Fari nelli, loaded with presents, set out for Spain, staying a few months by the way in France, where he sang before Louis XV., and was rewarded with a handsome snuff-box containing the king s portrait set in diamonds, and 500 louis d or. In Spain, where he had only meant to stay a few months, he ended by passing nearly twenty-five years. His voice, used by the queen to cure Philip V. of his melancholy madness, acquired for him, through the success of the treatment, an influence with that prince which gave him eventually the power, if not the name, of prime minister. This power he was wise and modest enough to use dis creetly; and he always conciliated the enemies whom his favour raised up against him. He had, however, to pay for his position a price which to every artist must seem too heavy, that of singing night after night to the king the same six songs, and never anything else. Lender Ferdinand VI. he held the same place, and was decorated with the cross of Calatrava. He utilized his ascendency over this king by persuading him to establish an Italian opera. While at Madrid he heard of the death of Bernacchi, of whom he speaks in terms of affection and esteem in an extant letter addressed to the Padre Martini. Returning to Bologna, Farinelli spent the remainder of his days there in a melancholy splendour, and died JulylS, 1782, aged 77. His voice was of large compass, possessing seven or eight notes more than those of ordinary singers, and was sonorous, equal, and clear ; and he also possessed a great knowledge of music. FARINI, LUIGI CARLO (1812-1866), anltalian physician, statesman, and historian, was born at Russi in Ravenna, 22d October 1812. After completing a brilliant university course at Bologna, he practised as a physician at Ravenna and at Russi. By his successful treatment of various diseases, and his communications to the Bolognese Bollct- tino delle sdenze mediche and other scientific journals, he soon acquired a considerable reputation, but in 1843 his political opinions brought him under the suspicion of the police, and caused his expulsion from the Papal States. lie then resided successively at Marseilles, Paris, Florence, and Turin, taking advantage of the facili ties afforded him in each place to perfect his medical skill ; but by the amnesty granted by Pius IX. on the IGth July 1846 he was permitted to return to the States, and he received soon afterwards the professorship of clinical sur gery at Osimo. In 1845 he published a pamphlet on the cultivation of rice in Italy. In 1 847 he was induced to take advantage of an opportunity which then presented itself of entering political life, and became under secretary of state, holding office, however, for little more than a month, since, along with his colleagues, he disapproved of the policy of the pope in siding with Austria against the Italian states. Elected in 1848 member of the reformed parliament for Faenza, he was named director general of health and prisons, but refusing to adhere to the proclamation of a republic, he resigned the office in February 1849, and passed into Tuscany. When the French army entered Rome in the following July he resumed his office, but the triumvirate of cardinals who governed in the name of the pope having