Page:Imperial Dictionary of Universal Biography Volume 1.pdf/608

BIA a medal in his honour, bearing on one side the figure of a lynx, with the motto "Lynceis restitutis," and on the other a portrait of Bianchi, surrounded by his academic title, "Janus Plancus Ariminensis." Bianchi died on the 3d December, 1775, leaving behind him a considerable number of published works, many of them of a controversial nature, some of which are brought out under the assumed names of P. P. Lapi, Marco Chillenio, P. Ghisi, and Crisitro Stillita. Amongst his principal writings are the following: "Letters on Cataract," published at Rimini in 1720; "Letters to a Friend, regarding the Arsenical Magnesia," Pesaro, 1722, written under the name of M. Chillenio against a quack, whose name Bianchi does not mention; "Epistola Anatomica ad Josephum Puteum," Bologna, 1726, and also printed with Morgagni's Epistolæ Anatomicæ, at Leyden in 1728; a "Dissertation on Vesicatories," published at Venice in 1746, in which he opposes the use of these remedies; "De Monstris ac Monstrosis Quibusdam," an interesting collection of cases of monstrosity, published at Venice in 1749; "Medical History of an Aposteme in the right lobe of the Cerebellum," Rimini, 1751; and "Epistola de Urina cum sedimento cœruleo," Venice, 1756.—W. S. D.  BIANCHI,, a Franciscan monk, born at Lucca in 1686. He studied at Rome, and became lecturer in philosophy and theology, in which sciences he obtained the degree of doctor. He successively was provincial, visitor, and general of his order. His theological knowledge raised him to the dignity of examiner of the Roman clergy, and councillor of the Inquisition, and he was enrolled a member of the academy of the Arcadi, under the name of Lauriso Traginese. Deeply read in sacred history, he wrote many tragedies, which were published under the anagrammatic name of "Farnabio Gioachino Annutini." He wrote also some tragedies in verse on profane subjects, such as "Il Ruggiero," "Virginia," "Marianna," "Don Alfonso," "La Talda," besides many excellent plays, amongst which "L'Antiquario" is particularly noticed by Quadrio. His numerous Italian and Latin works are mentioned in extenso by Mazzuchelli, his contemporary. A fine Latin inscription in the church of St. Bartholomew of the island, in Rome, records his death at an advanced age, January 18, 1758.—A. C. M.  BIANCHI,, a celebrated Italian anatomist, was born at Turin on the 12th September, 1681, of a good Milanese family, and displayed such extraordinary talents whilst young, that he received his doctor's degree when only seventeen years old. Young as he was, however, his qualifications were considered to be of so high an order, that shortly afterwards the direction of the hospitals of Turin was confided to him, and he filled this difficult and arduous post with the greatest credit to himself. Seeing clearly that opening the bodies of those patients who died in the hospitals, would furnish the surgeon with a great insight into the seats and causes of disease, he let slip no opportunity of pursuing such investigations, and was naturally led on from these purely practical points to study the general structure of the human body. The fame of his dexterity in dissection, and of his discoveries, soon became so great in Turin, that the physicians and surgeons of that city engaged him to deliver thirteen public courses of anatomical lectures; and in 1715 the king of Sardinia built a convenient amphitheatre for his accommodation. From the year 1718, he not only continued his public anatomical demonstrations, but also gave lectures successively on philosophy, pharmacy, chemistry, and the practice of medicine. From the extent of his talents, he was received a member of the academies degl' Innominati, degl' Intrepidi, and Naturæ Curiosorum. The university of Bologna invited him in 1720 to occupy its chair of theoretical medicine; but the king (Victor-Amadeo II.), who was desirous of re-establishing the university of Turin in its former lustre, neutralized the effect of these solicitations upon Bianchi, by appointing him to the first chair of anatomy. He continued to occupy this position, and to contribute greatly by his talent to the progress of the university, until his death, which took place on the 20th January, 1761. Bianchi was the author of numerous works, principally on human anatomy and physiology, some of which were rather roughly handled by Morgagni in his Adversaria Anatomica. Amongst them we may notice the following as the most important—"Historia Hepatica, seu de hepatis structura, usibus, et morbis," published at Turin in 1710 and 1716, and at Geneva in 1725; "Ductus lacrymales Novi," &c., Turin, 1715. His work "De naturali in humano corpore, vitiosa, morbosaque generatione Historia," also published at Turin in 1741, contains a history, illustrated with figures, of the development of the human subject, from the unimpregnated ovum, up to the middle period of pregnancy. Bianchi supports the theory of the ovarists, supposing the germ to exist in the ovum before fecundation. This work also contains some observations on the parasitic worms of the human subject. Besides these we have a treatise in Latin—"De lacteorum vasorum Positionibus et Fabrica," Turin, 1743; and in Italian, "A history of a monster with two bodies," 1749; and "Letter upon Insensibility," 1755, in opposition to the views of Haller, which caused that anatomist to attack Bianchi with considerable energy and effect. Besides these works, Bianchi left many smaller memoirs, some of which were printed during his life, and others only in manuscript; and in 1757 a collection of fifty-four plates, containing two hundred and seventy fine anatomical figures, executed under the superintendence and at the cost of Bianchi, was published in Turin.—W. S. D.  BIANCHI,, a lawyer, philologist and Italian translator, born at Rome; died at Milan in 1756. He assisted his friend Argellati in editing the Scriptores rerum Italicarum, and translated several works.  BIANCHI,, born at Cremona in 1733. He studied for the church and entered the order of the Benedictines at Classe. Soon after his profession he taught rhetoric and philosophy, until he was sent to Avellana, where he inhabited the same cell in which it is said Dante wrote his Inferno. It was in that solitude he gathered materials for his "Meditazioni," a collection of biographical researches on sacred history. From thence he went to Cremona, and wrote a valuable work on the antiquities of that ancient city. Being invited to Montersale in Sicily, to fill the chair of philosophy, he acquired a great renown, and revived the taste for literature and science, publishing many valuable articles in a periodical of which he was the editor. His love for archeology made him accept the honourable position of secretary to the Danish prince, Raffadele, with whom he travelled through France, Spain, and Germany; and, whilst in Denmark, he wrote the history of that country, in which he made so many archæological discoveries. Anxious to see his native place, he obtained the professorship of philosophy, which he held till the year 1775. His order having been suppressed, and having no other occupation to interfere with his studies, he spent all his time in revising his numerous works, amongst which, "La morale del sentimento," and "Meditazioni su varii punti di felicità pubblica," are considered the best. He died in 1807.—A. C. M.  BIANCHI,, a pupil of Morazzone, a Milanese painter, who imitated the Venetians; born in 1626. He painted in frescos and oil, and completed an unfinished work of his master, who had fled the country, for the duke of Savoy's residence at Rivoli, for which he was knighted. Died about 1670.—W. T.  BIANCHI,, a Roman historical painter. The best work of this almost-unknown man, is the marriage of the Virgin at the church of St. Joseph in Rome.—W. T.  BIANCHI,, born at Rome in 1694. He gave promise as a historical painter, but was cut off by consumption in his prime about 1740. He was probably of Milanese descent. <section end="608H" /> <section begin="608I" />BIANCHI, ____, an Austrian general, who served against France in 1814. During the Hundred Days he was opposed in Italy to Murat. The king of Naples having imprudently extended his line, Bianchi profited by the opportunity, and attacked him at the bridge of Occhiobello near Ferrara, which was occupied by the Neapolitan troops. Murat's forces were routed, and compelled to retreat. At Tolentino and at Macerata they were again attacked by Bianchi, who drove them towards Naples. These operations were immediately followed by the flight of Murat and the submission of Naples. <section end="608I" /> <section begin="608J" />BIANCHI or BLANCUS,, an Italian theologian, author of "Pii mores et sancti amores epigrammatis expressi;" born at Genoa in 1587; died in 1657. He was a jesuit. <section end="608J" /> <section begin="608Zcontin" />BIANCHINI,, born at Verona, December 13, 1662. He studied at Panna, particularly applying himself to mathematics, under the celebrated professor Montanari. His fondness of abstract sciences did not, however, estrange him from literary pursuits; and having taken out his degrees, he went to Rome, where Cardinal Ottoboni appointed him his librarian. There he conceived the idea of a universal history, grounded on written and monumental authorities of former times scattered over the surface of the earth. Cardinal Ottoboni having been raised <section end="608Zcontin" />