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Difference between revisions of "Francesco Fernando Alfieri"

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| <p>On grasping the pike in order to march</p>
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<p>Chapter V</p>
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<p>In wishing to march with the pike raised, as shown by the figure, three tempi are necessary in order to raise it. </p>
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<p>The first is to lift the pike enough that it is a little higher than your head, holding the pike with your left hand in line with your flank. </p>
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<p>The second is performed by hoisting the pike up to the given level, quickly bringing your right hand to the butt. </p>
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<p>The third consists in bearing the pike entirely with your right hand, with it resting between your arm and shoulder, as is clear from the design. </p>
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| <p>On marching with the pike at your shoulder</p>
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<p>Chapter VI</p>
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<p>To carry the pike at your shoulder, the following rules hold true. Your elbow should not be forced, therefore being neither too high, nor bent towards the ground, because one is weak, the other is not very graceful. Your hand should be held quiet far from your shoulder, with your left bent into your flank. In this manner you can change face, and move the pike while turning your body, without disordering yourself. </p>
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<p>If you must pass before some prince, or minister and official of war, you show your respects in the following manner. First you shift your view, and when you are before them you lower your gaze, turning your body somewhat towards them, pulling your right leg behind, and bending your knee, while maintaining the gravitas required by the military. </p>
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| {{section|Page:La Picca (Francesco Fernando Alfieri) 1641.pdf/24|1|lbl=18}}
  

Revision as of 11:25, 18 November 2020

Francesco Fernando Alfieri

Portrait from 1640
Born 16th century (?)
Died 17th century
Occupation Fencing master
Nationality Italian
Genres Fencing manual
Language Italian
Notable work(s)

Francesco Fernando Alfieri was a 17th century Italian fencing master. Little is known about his life, but Alfieri means "Ensign" which might be a military title rather than a family name. In his fencing treatise of 1640, he identifies himself as a master-at-arms to the Accademia Delia in Padua, and indicates that he had long experience at that time

In 1638, Alfieri published a treatise on flag drill entitled La Bandiera ("The Banner"). This was followed in 1640 by La Scherma ("On Fencing"), in which he treats the use of the rapier. Not content with these works, in 1641 he released La Picca ("The Pike"), which not only covers pike drill, but also includes a complete reprint of La Bandiera (complete with title page dated 1638). His treatise on rapier seems to have been especially popular, as it was reprinted in 1646 and then received a new edition in 1653 titled L’arte di ben maneggiare la spada ("The Art of Handling the Sword Well"), which not only includes the entirety of the 1640 edition, but also adds a concluding section on the spadone.

Treatise

Additional Resources

References

  1. This passage is later self-plagiarised by Alfieri in the introduction to his treatise on the spadone of 1653.
  2. Although taken somewhat out of context, Alfieri appears to be referring to Numbers 21:8: “And the LORD said unto Moses, Make thee a fiery serpent, and set it upon a pole” (King James Bible).
  3. Here Alfieri employs a practically untranslatable idiom “tenero di sale”, which refers to a dish lacking in salt but also ironically to a foolish, naïve or credulous person. The translator has replaced this with an approximately equivalent English idiom.
  4. Note the use of fencing terminology to describe actions with the flag, which continues throughout the treatise.
  5. Montanti (singular montante) in fencing terminology refers to rising blows.
  6. Literally “totally covered”, this describes a guard or posture in which your opponent has no direct line of attack, as demonstrated for example in chapters XXV and XXXIV of Alfieri's 1640 treatise on rapier fencing.
  7. Note that this final plate is simply reused from chapter I.
  8. Again this passage is later self-plagiarised in the conclusion to Alfieri's 1653 treatise on the spadone.
  9. According to tradition Lysis of Taras was both a student of Pythagoras and teacher to Epaminondas, although since this would make him impossibly old perhaps two historical figures were conflated. Epaminondas was a renowned Theban general from whom Philip learned in his youth, as a hostage in Thebes.
  10. The braccio (plural: braccia) was an Italian pre-metric unit of measurement. Its length varied by region, although the Venetian and Paduan braccio appear to have been approximately 68.3cm. This was would make Alfieri’s pike approximately 6.12 meters (or 20 foot) long.
  11. Plate armour designed to protect the upper thighs.
  12. A type of helmet, first used by the Spanish, usually with a flat brim and a crest from front to back.