Page:The New International Encyclopædia 1st ed. v. 17.djvu/141

* RICASOLl. 121 RICCIO. In 1S59 he assumed the leadership of the lilieral moveiiient in Tuscany, and after the llight of the tirand Duke was made dictator (August 1). In this oliiee lie exerted himself for the union of Tuscany with Sardinia. His firmness streiij;th- ciu'd the hands of Cavour and Victor Emmanuel, and on the 20th of March, ISOO, he was able to announce to the Tuscan assembly that its work was done. In the same month he was made Gov- crnorticneral of Tuscany. On the death of Cavour (June, ISUl) Ricasoli was called to the head of the Jlinistry. His Cabinet, however, could not willistand the Radical assault, and he resigned in Jlarch, 1602. He returned to power in June, ISlil), and retired in April of the following year, when he was succeeded by Ratazzi. Consult his Lcitere e docunicnti (10 vols., Florence, 1888- !15) ; Ongaro, Bcltino Ricasoli (Turin, 1801) ; Passerini, Gcncnluyirt e storia della Famiglia Ricasoli (Florence, 18C1). RICCl, rit'che, Fedekigo (1809-77). An Ital- ian dramatic composer, born in Xaples. He was educated in music at the Conservatory of San Se- bastiano, after which he followed his older brother to Rome. His first great success was won by the opera La prigione d'Edimhurgo (1837), which was followed by the scarcely less successful Un duello sotto Richelieu (1839); Michelangelo e Rolla (1841): and Co) rudo d' Alfamura. In 1853 he went to Saint Petersburg as inspector of the vocal classes in the Theatre School, and about 1870 left that city to superin- tend personally his own musical productions in Paris. One or two of his operas had been trans- lated and adapted for the French stage, and their success led him to bid for French favor with the more ambitious operas Docteur Rose (1872), and Uhi dura vince. He was disappointed, however, and in 1876 returned to Italy. Additional com- positions included masses, cantatas, songs, as well as several other operas. He died at Cone- gliano. KICCI, LuiGi (1805-59). An Italian dramatic composer. He was born in Xaples, and, like his brother Federigo, was educated at the Conserva- tory of San Sebastiano, Naples. He composed several very successful operas which he presented in rapid succession, and in 1836 became maestro di capella at the Cathedral of Triest. and vocal director of the city theatre. After this much of his work was done in collaboration with his brother until 1859, when he was stricken with disease of the brain, and after confinement in the Prague asylum died there. He wrote about 30 operas, of which perhaps La festa di Piedigrotta (1852) and II diavolo a quattro (1859), written jointly with his brother, are among the best. His masterpiece, however, was Crispino e la Coinare (1850), one of the best comic operas of Italy and the only one still perfonned outside of it. Other compositions include masses, sacred and secular songs, and duets. RICCI, Matteo (1553-1610). The founder of the Jesuit missions in China, and a celebrated astronomer, born at ilacerata. Italy. After studying law at Rome he entered the Society of Jesus in 1571. In 1577, while still a scholastic, he went on the mission to India. There he was ordained, and because of his ability in Eastern languages, especially in Chinese, selected to found the mission in China. Ricci published .scvernl works in Chinese which attracted the at- tention of Chinese literati by llie purity iil their style. He resolved to nmke his way to I'ekintj, and in the dress of a Chinese .scholar ^uceeeiletl in reaching Nanking (1595), but was not allowed to remain long. Later lie wrote a series (if didactic works in Chinese, one a Uiiilogur nf t'rieiiitxiiip. in imitation of Cicero, which so plenseil the Chinese mandarins that he obtained the permi-sioii In uo to Peking. He presented to the Emperor a tcli- scope and various asironomical insiniimnls, which were still in the palace when the Allies forced an entrance in 1900. After this he wiii allowed to reside at Nanking. In llllll he ob- tained permission to build a ehiireli ami found il mission in Peking itself. Hefure long his mathe- matical teaching and classical Chinese style ob- tained for him great iirestige. lie iK-eaine a special favorite of the Emperor, and thniugh his infiuence Christianity was introduced into the principal cities of China. There is an important work by him which contains a number of valu- able observations on the geography and history of China. His book On The Suture of (lod. writ- ten in Cliinese, has been admitted into the iium- ber of Chinese classics. Consult biogra)iliics by Sainte-Foi (Paris, 1859) and Werfer (2d ed.. Regensburg, 1870). RICCI, SciPioxE DE (1741-1810). An Italian bishop, born at Florence. He was ordained a priest in 1706. For some time he was amiitor to the Papal Nuncio at Florence, and in 1780 was appointed Bishop of Pistoja and Prato. He at- tempted to introduce certain reforms in the Church, but though he was supported by the Grand Duke Leopold, brother of Emperor .Iose|>li II., and his reform measures were approved liy the diocesan synod of Pistoja in 178li, he was opposed at the general Tuscan Synod, held at Florence in 1787. When Leopold left Tuscany, Ricci was forced by the anger of the populace to flee from Pistoja (April, 1790). and he formally renounced his episcopal dignity in .lune. 1791. Consult his Life by Potter (Brussels. 182.')). and his autobiography, Meiiiorie (Florence, 1805). RICCI,. Seb.vstiano (1659-1734). An Italian painter of the Venetian school, born at Civiilale di Belluno. He was a pujiil in Venice of Cervelli, with whom he paintad in Milan. Bologna, and Venice. Afterwards he visited .ustria and Eng- land, where he remained ten years. His works in England include the decorations of the chapel at Bulstrode for the Duke of Portland, of the hall at Burlincton House, and those in the chapel of Chelsea Hospital. "The Continence of Scipio," and "The Dinner at Simon's House." two of his best productions, are at Hampton Court. He executed a large number of works distin- guislicd for vivacity of conception, grace of form, and fine color. RICCIARDELLI, rit'char-d6l'14, Daniele. See VoLTF.RRA, Daniele da. RICCIO, David. See Eizzio. RICCIO, rit'chA, DoMEXiro. called Bbisa- SORCI (1494-1567). An Italian painter of the Venetian school, born in Verona. He was the pupil of Carotp. but was strongly inllueneed by (iiorgione and Titian. Afost of his works, chief- ly frescoes, are to be found in his native city. Those which depict mytholngieal subjects are better than his purely religious pieces. He painted the facade of the Casa Murari, now nl-