Accademia Lucchese di Scienze, Lettere ed Arti

Accademia Lucchese di Scienze, Lettere ed Arti =
Academy of Sciences, Letters and Arts of Lucca

Founding of the Society

Year Authority / Notes

1584
According to p. 10 of Accademia Lucchese (1985), the Accademia traces its origins to the year 1584, when Giovanni Lorenzo Malpighi began to organize meetings of learned friends in his palazzo; this group became known as the Accademia degli Oscuri. This Accademia had, however, been preceded by one known as the Accademia Lucchese, which appears to have been of short duration; many members of the latter Accademia later joined the Accademia degli Oscuri.
We find more information about this early Accademia Lucchese on pp.9 and 10 of v.4 of Maylender (1926-1930), where we find a reference from the heading Accademia Lucchese - prima - Lucca to his entry on the Accademia Bernardiniana - Lucca (v.1, pp.442-443), and also a reference from the heading Accademia Lucchese - seconda - Lucca to his entry on the Accademia degli Oscuri (v.1, pp.153-164). We conclude that this earlier Accademia Lucchese was the Accademia Bernardiniana founded by Guiseppe Bernardini only a little before the founding of the Accademia degli Oscuri in 1584 by Malpighi.
Accademia Lucchese (1985) p.10 indicates that the designation Oscuri is related to their coat of arms, which displays burning coals, which means that their brilliance overcomes the darkness (oscurità) of that which is not knowledge.
Accademia Lucchese (1985) p.10 indicates that the Accademia changed its name following the vicissitudes of the government during the Napoleonic, Austrian and Bourbon periods, but does not (on p.10) give the names during these periods.
Accademia Lucchese (1985) p.11 indicates that the Accademia was known from 1584 to 1805 as the Accademia degli Oscuri. But in 1805, with the start of the Napoleonic period, it took the name Accademia Napoleone (Accademia Lucchese (1985) p.12).
Accademia Lucchese (1985) p.12 indicates that in 1814, with the fall of the Napoleonic dynasty and the incoming Austrian provisional government (1814 - 1817), the Accademia took once again its former name of Accademia degli Oscuri and also Accademia di Belle Lettere. Accademia Lucchese (1985) p.12 also indicates that this was followed by the Bourbon dukedom (1817-1847) with Maria-Luisa di Borbone-Parma and her son Principe Carlo Ludovico, who became perpetual president of the Accademia, and desired to restore the former name of Accademia Lucchese di Scienze, Lettere ed Arti adding to it the designation Reale.
Maylender (1926-1930) v.4, p.164 tells a somewhat different story. Apparently, in 1814 the incoming provisional government decreed that the Accademia had to resume its former name of Accademia degli Oscuri. But the latter was not preferred, and the Accademia, following the example of the Accademia Cosentina, incorporated the adjectival form of its seat (Lucca) into its new name, the Accademia Lucchese in 1814. And, in 1816, because the Accademia obtained the support of the Bourbons (Maria Luisa di Borbone-Parma and her son Principe Carlo Ludovico), it was adorned with the designation Reale.
Accademia Lucchese (1985) p.13 indicates that the perpetual presidency of the Accademia passed to the Granduca di Toscana, Leopoldo II, and afterwards, with the advent of the Kingdom of Italy, to the royalty in the House of Savoy. [Note: According to a biographical sketch on Carlo Lodovico di Borbone, Carlo Ludovico remained as leader of the dukedom of Lucca from 1824 to 1847, until Lucca was annexed to the Grand Dukedom of Tuscany. Moreover, according to a Historical Note on Florence, Italy, the Monarchy of a united Italy lasted from 1860 - 1946, when the Republic began.]

Seat of the Society

City Authority / Notes

Lucca
Italy This location is supported by the name used by the Accademia since at least 1817.

Name of the Society

Dates Name Authority

1584 - 1805 Accademia degli Oscuri Accademia Lucchese (1985), p.11.

1805 - 1814 Accademia Napoleone Accademia Lucchese (1985), p.12.

1814 - 1817 Accademia degli Oscuri = Accademia di Belle Lettere Accademia Lucchese (1985) p.12 supports this name and dates.

1817 - 1946 Reale Accademia Lucchese di Scienze, Lettere ed Arti Accademia Lucchese (1985) p.12 supports this name and start date of 1817; Maylender (1926-1930) v.4, p.164 appears to put the start date at 1816. Istituto di Storia del Diritto Italiano supports this name for 1821-1942. The Historical Note on Florence, Italy indicates that the monarchy ended in 1946.

1853 - 1855 I. e R. Accademia Lucchese di Scienze, Lettere ed Arti Istituto di Storia del Diritto Italiano supports this name for 1853-1855.

1858 Imperiale e Reale Accademia Lucchese Istituto di Storia del Diritto Italiano supports this name for 1858.

1946 - Accademia Lucchese di Scienze, Lettere ed Arti The Historical Note on Florence, Italy, indicates that the Italian Republic began in 1946. Its publications give this name as the current name.

Website not found, as of 2004, January 5.

Journals of the Society

Years Full Journal Title Abbrev. Indexed
1813 - 1925/33
(v.1 - v.16); 1986 -
(N.S. v.1. -

A Memorie e Documenti per servire all'Istoria del Principato Lucchese
This publication had many variants on its name throughout its history, including: (1) Memorie e Documenti per servire all'Istoria della città e Stato di Lucca; (2) Memorie e Documenti per servire alla Storia di Lucca; (3) Memorie e Documenti per servire all'Istoria di Lucca; and (4) Memorie e Documenti per servire all'Istoria del Ducato di Lucca.
[GBV German Union cat.]

1821 - 1925
(1. - 36.);
1931 - 1994(1998)
(N.S. 1. - 2.Ser. 25.);
1996(1997)
(2.Ser. 27.);
1998/99(1999)
(28.);
2001
(29.)

B Atti dell'Accademia Lucchese di Scienze, Lettere ed Arti
According to the GBV German Union cat., the title was originally Atti della Reale Accademia Lucchese di Scienze, Lettere ed Arti, but later had the following other names: (1) Atti dell' I. e R. Accademia Lucchese di Scienze, Lettere ed Arti; (2) Atti della R. Accademia Lucchese di Scienze, Lettere ed Arti; and (3) Atti dell Accademia Lucchese di Scienze, Lettere ed Arti.
Also, at Istituto di Storia del Diritto Italiano, we find a record with the following information: Atti della reale accademia lucchese di scienze lettere ed arti 1(1821)-2(1823);5(1829)-6(1830);8(1835)-13(1845);15(1855)-26(1893); 32(1904)-35(1919)/1(1931)-2(1936);4(1937)-5(1942); in 1858 it had the title: Atti dell'imperiale e reale accademia lucchese; from 1853 to 1855 it had the title: Atti dell'i. e r. accademia lucchese di scienze lettere ed arti.
[GBV German Union cat.]
Lucca, Atti Accad.
[RSLC, v.1, p.xlvii] RSLC

Accademia Lucchese di Scienze, Lettere ed Arti = Academy of Sciences, Letters and Arts of Lucca
Founding of the Society
Year	Authority / Notes
1584	According to p. 10 of Accademia Lucchese (1985), the Accademia traces its origins to the year 1584, when Giovanni Lorenzo Malpighi began to organize meetings of learned friends in his palazzo; this group became known as the Accademia degli Oscuri. This Accademia had, however, been preceded by one known as the Accademia Lucchese, which appears to have been of short duration; many members of the latter Accademia later joined the Accademia degli Oscuri. We find more information about this early Accademia Lucchese on pp.9 and 10 of v.4 of Maylender (1926-1930), where we find a reference from the heading *Accademia Lucchese - prima - Lucca* to his entry on the *Accademia Bernardiniana - Lucca* (v.1, pp.442-443), and also a reference from the heading *Accademia Lucchese - seconda - Lucca* to his entry on the *Accademia degli Oscuri* (v.1, pp.153-164). We conclude that this earlier Accademia Lucchese was the Accademia Bernardiniana founded by Guiseppe Bernardini only a little before the founding of the Accademia degli Oscuri in 1584 by Malpighi. Accademia Lucchese (1985) p.10 indicates that the designation Oscuri is related to their coat of arms, which displays burning coals, which means that their brilliance overcomes the darkness (*oscurità) of that which is not knowledge. Accademia Lucchese (1985) p.10 indicates that the Accademia changed its name following the vicissitudes of the government during the Napoleonic, Austrian and Bourbon periods, but does not (on p.10) give the names during these periods. Accademia Lucchese (1985) p.11 indicates that the Accademia was known from 1584 to 1805 as the Accademia degli Oscuri. But in 1805, with the start of the Napoleonic period, it took the name Accademia Napoleone* (Accademia Lucchese (1985) p.12). Accademia Lucchese (1985) p.12 indicates that in 1814, with the fall of the Napoleonic dynasty and the incoming Austrian provisional government (1814 - 1817), the Accademia took once again its former name of Accademia degli Oscuri and also Accademia di Belle Lettere. Accademia Lucchese (1985) p.12 also indicates that this was followed by the Bourbon dukedom (1817-1847) with Maria-Luisa di Borbone-Parma and her son Principe Carlo Ludovico, who became perpetual president of the Accademia, and desired to restore the former name of Accademia Lucchese di Scienze, Lettere ed Arti adding to it the designation Reale. Maylender (1926-1930) v.4, p.164 tells a somewhat different story. Apparently, in 1814 the incoming provisional government decreed that the Accademia had to resume its former name of Accademia degli Oscuri. But the latter was not preferred, and the Accademia, following the example of the Accademia Cosentina, incorporated the adjectival form of its seat (Lucca) into its new name, the Accademia Lucchese in 1814. And, in 1816, because the Accademia obtained the support of the Bourbons (Maria Luisa di Borbone-Parma and her son Principe Carlo Ludovico), it was adorned with the designation Reale. Accademia Lucchese (1985) p.13 indicates that the perpetual presidency of the Accademia passed to the Granduca di Toscana, Leopoldo II, and afterwards, with the advent of the Kingdom of Italy, to the royalty in the House of Savoy. [Note: According to a biographical sketch on Carlo Lodovico di Borbone, Carlo Ludovico remained as leader of the dukedom of Lucca from 1824 to 1847, until Lucca was annexed to the Grand Dukedom of Tuscany. Moreover, according to a Historical Note on Florence, Italy, the Monarchy of a united Italy lasted from 1860 - 1946, when the Republic began.]
Seat of the Society
City	Authority / Notes
Lucca Italy	This location is supported by the name used by the Accademia since at least 1817.
Name of the Society
Dates	Name	Authority
1584 - 1805	*Accademia degli Oscuri*	Accademia Lucchese (1985), p.11.
1805 - 1814	*Accademia Napoleone*	Accademia Lucchese (1985), p.12.
1814 - 1817	*Accademia degli Oscuri = Accademia di Belle Lettere*	Accademia Lucchese (1985) p.12 supports this name and dates.
1817 - 1946	*Reale Accademia Lucchese di Scienze, Lettere ed Arti*	Accademia Lucchese (1985) p.12 supports this name and start date of 1817; Maylender (1926-1930) v.4, p.164 appears to put the start date at 1816. Istituto di Storia del Diritto Italiano supports this name for 1821-1942. The Historical Note on Florence, Italy indicates that the monarchy ended in 1946.
1853 - 1855	*I. e R. Accademia Lucchese di Scienze, Lettere ed Arti*	Istituto di Storia del Diritto Italiano supports this name for 1853-1855.
1858	*Imperiale e Reale Accademia Lucchese*	Istituto di Storia del Diritto Italiano supports this name for 1858.
1946 -	*Accademia Lucchese di Scienze, Lettere ed Arti*	The Historical Note on Florence, Italy, indicates that the Italian Republic began in 1946. Its publications give this name as the current name.
Website not found, as of 2004, January 5.

Journals of the Society
Years	Full Journal Title	Abbrev.	Indexed
1813 - 1925/33 (v.1 - v.16); 1986 - (N.S. v.1. - A	*Memorie e Documenti per servire all'Istoria del Principato Lucchese* This publication had many variants on its name throughout its history, including: (1) *Memorie e Documenti per servire all'Istoria della città e Stato di Lucca; (2) Memorie e Documenti per servire alla Storia di Lucca; (3) Memorie e Documenti per servire all'Istoria di Lucca; and (4) Memorie e Documenti per servire all'Istoria del Ducato di Lucca*. [GBV German Union cat.]
1821 - 1925 (1. - 36.); 1931 - 1994(1998) (N.S. 1. - 2.Ser. 25.); 1996(1997) (2.Ser. 27.); 1998/99(1999) (28.); 2001 (29.) B	*Atti dell'Accademia Lucchese di Scienze, Lettere ed Arti* According to the GBV German Union cat., the title was originally *Atti della Reale Accademia Lucchese di Scienze, Lettere ed Arti, but later had the following other names: (1) Atti dell' I. e R. Accademia Lucchese di Scienze, Lettere ed Arti; (2) Atti della R. Accademia Lucchese di Scienze, Lettere ed Arti; and (3) Atti dell Accademia Lucchese di Scienze, Lettere ed Arti. Also, at Istituto di Storia del Diritto Italiano, we find a record with the following information: Atti della reale accademia lucchese di scienze lettere ed arti* 1(1821)-2(1823);5(1829)-6(1830);8(1835)-13(1845);15(1855)-26(1893); 32(1904)-35(1919)/1(1931)-2(1936);4(1937)-5(1942); in 1858 it had the title: *Atti dell'imperiale e reale accademia lucchese; from 1853 to 1855 it had the title: Atti dell'i. e r. accademia lucchese di scienze lettere ed arti*. [GBV German Union cat.]	*Lucca, Atti Accad.* [RSLC, v.1, p.xlvii]	*RSLC*