Summary
Highlights
Scapigliatura was not an organized school or movement, but rather a group of writers active in Milan, Turin, and Genoa during the 1860s and 1870s. They were united by a rejection of literary conventions and bourgeois society, expressing a sense of rebellion and revolt. The term 'Scapigliatura' was coined by Cletto Arrighi in his 1862 novel. This movement saw the emergence of the conflict between the artist and society, a common theme in foreign Romanticism, leading to anti-bourgeois, bohemian attitudes and the myth of an irregular life, also known as 'maledettismo'.
The Scapigliati felt a profound sense of crisis and internal division, torn between ideal and reality, good and evil, vice and virtue, beauty and horror. Their primary inspirations were Charles Baudelaire, who explored human anguish, internal laceration, and disgust for life, and Edgar Allan Poe, known for his horror stories. Scapigliatura served as an intellectual crossroads, allowing foreign literary themes and forms to revitalize the Italian cultural scene, which had been criticized for its traditionalism since the early 19th century.
Emilio Praga (1839-1875) is a central figure of Scapigliatura. Born into a wealthy family, he traveled extensively but fell into alcoholism and a disordered life after his father's death. He fully embraced the Baudelairean model of 'maledettismo,' dying in poverty at 36. His work, particularly 'Preludio,' serves as a manifesto for Scapigliatura, describing a generation afflicted by a loss of values but also drawn to evil and the stark reality of modern life, anticipating aspects of Verismo and Decadentism. Praga's 'miserable but true song' reflects this dichotomy.
Arrigo Boito (1842-1918) studied at the Milan Conservatory and became friends with Praga, initially engaging with Scapigliatura. However, he later distanced himself to pursue music, writing librettos for Verdi and his own acclaimed opera, 'Mefistofele.' His poem 'Dualismo' powerfully expresses the Scapigliati's internal conflict and division between good and evil, ideal and reality. Boito's work captures the spiritual condition of the group, reflecting influences from Baudelaire and German Romanticism, and a strong rejection of modern society.
Iginio Ugo Tarchetti (1839-1869) was a military officer who abandoned his career due to illness. He moved to Milan and became involved with the Scapigliati but was ravaged by literary work, poverty, and tuberculosis, dying at 30. His most famous novel, 'Fosca' (1869), explores the protagonist Giorgio's entanglement with the outwardly repulsive but psychologically compelling Fosca, who represents a 'femme fatale.' The novel delves into psychological horror, combining naturalistic elements with symbolism, portraying Fosca as a morbid, death-like figure who preys on men's vitality. This work highlights the dark and macabre aspects prevalent in Scapigliatura.