DE VINCENTIIS, Gherardo. 1845 — 1907. Italian Iranian (Persian) Scholar, also interested in Sanskrit and China. Studies at Naples under Lignana. Professor of Persian at Regio Istituto Orientale di Napoli: incaricato 1878, eo. 1890, ord. 1904-07. Publications: Il Gulistan, ossia il Roseto dello Scheich Sadi di Schiraz. Prima versione italiana…
CORSALI, Andrea. Florence 29.6.1487 — 15??. Italian Traveller. Son of Giovanni C., had good education. In the service of de Medicis he went to India in a Portuguese ship in 1515 and sent to Giuliano and Lorenzo de Medici two letters describing the lands and people. First in Goa, visited…
BRANDI, Mario. Trieste 11.12.1891 — 1943/44?. Italian, probably a Theosophist, son of Salvatore Brandi and Elisa Iacchia. He authored several mystic books, two in collaboration with Emma Tedeschi (1896–1943/44?). In November 1943 both were arrested in Nervi (Genoa) as Jews and sent to Auschwitz. Publications: Lo Yoga della fede: Bhagavadgītā…
VASSALINI, Ida. Verona 1.11.1891 — Milano 21.12.1953. Italian Poet and Translator. Daughter of Bartolomeo V. and Itala Abati. Became early interested in classical and oriental philology, in philosophy and poetry. Studies at Padova and Milano. Worked as teacher in Milano. Refused from joining the fascist association and almost lost her…
SCALIGERO, Massimo (nom-de-plume of Antonio Massimo Sgabelloni). Veroli, Lazio 17.9.1906 — Rome 26.1.1980. Italian Esoterist (Follower of Evola) and Steinerian. Journalist in Rome, no scholar. Publications: As a friend of Tucci he was the editor of the E & W in 1970-78 and wrote some articles and numerous (often rather…
SCALABRINO BORSANI, Giuseppina (or G. Borsani Scalabrino). Milano 9.5.1910 — 22.2.1991. Italian Indologist. Professor in Milano. Studied Sanskrit at Catholic University of Milano under A. Ballini, graduated in 1933. Soon Assistant, then Docent, and from 1954 the first woman in Italy with a Sanskrit chair, at Catholic University of Milano,…
SANTA ANNA (Santana), Francisco Xavier de (lay Raffaello Pescetto). 17?? — Verapoly (?) 7.12.1844. Italian Carmelite Missionary and Konkani Scholar in India. Finally titular Archbishop of Sardes and in 1831-44 Apostolic Vicar in Verapoly (Kerala). Both works were published anonymously. Publications: Grammatica ou Observações Grammaticais sôbre a Lingoa de Concanâ.…
SANGERMANO, Vincentius. Arpino, Lazio 1758 — Livorno 28.7.1819. Father. Italian Barnabite Missionary in Burma, a Scholar of Pāli and Burmese. Sent to Burma in 1782. After brief stay in Ava worked long time in Rangoon as Principal of a missionary school. He knew well Burmese and Pāli and translated a…
RAMPOLLA DEL TINDARO, Mariano. 1893 — 1945. Monsignor. Italian Indologist. Born in a Sicilian noble family. Student of O. Nazari at Palermo. With his early interest in India he planned a missionary career. Instead, from 1933 he taught Sanskrit at the “Pontificium Institutum Missionale Athenaei Urbani de Propaganda Fide” in…
PEROGLIO, Celestino. Palestro 1824 — Bologna 1909. Italian Historian, interested in Indian Literature. Taught history and geography at technical school in Vercelli (founded by himself in 1854) and finally at University of Bologna. A Garibaldian nationalist and a freemason (grand master of Grande Oriente d’Italia). Publications: Del principio della nazionalità…