Music-selling in seventeenth-century Rome: three ... - Patrizio Barbieri

138 Patrizio Barbieri143.00 scudi in musical publications), while the rest goes to Giovanni Battista (son ofthe late Giovanni ‘Piccino’ and brother of Alessio, who died in 1599). 251633. As a result of the famous plague epidemic, in turn both Giovanni Battistaand his sons died, so that the whole share due to the Franzini (2344.49 scudi) wentto Giovanni Domenico and his sisters. In the month of February of that year hereceived all the books assigned to him in 1631. Some of the said books, after Carampelli’sdeath, had remained in the custody of the Compagnia di S. Anna (in thechurch of the Bresciani) and some (the musical editions) with Giovanni Domenicohimself. Of those in the keeping of the Compagnia, some had deteriorated in themeantime, either owing to “woodworm and mice”, or to the floods of the Tiber.Attached is an inventory of all of them, undated, but probably going back to 1625,the year in which Carampelli died and Plautilla’s heirs took them in custody. The“libri di musica”, whose value amounted to only 10% of the estimated total in 1631,are transcribed in Appendix II. This abundant inventory, comprising a total of overthree thousand titles, divides the remainder into various sectors, according to subjectmatter. 26 The entire activity thus focuses on Giovanni Domenico, who is certainlythe most representative member of the family and the most active in the publishingsector. 271649. Like his predecessors, Giovanni Domenico maintained contacts with publishersinternationally. This is confirmed by the fact that in this year he sent a baleof books, for the sum of 79.20 scudi, to the publisher J. Baudrand of Lyon, who inturn sent him volumes for the value of 65.70 scudi. Unfortunately, the latter wereblocked at the port of Marseilles by one of Baudrand’s creditors, so that GiovanniDomenico had to nominate a banker as his proxy in order to be paid. 28 Just twoyears earlier, in 1647, he had moved his dwelling and shop from Via del Pellegrino to25. As, 30 Not. Cap., uff. 31, vol. 129, f. 532, 21.3.1631.26. AS, 30 Not. Cap., uff. 31, vol. 135, f. 275, 9.2.1633. With reference to the 2344.49 scudi owing tothe Franzini, the document states: “of which scudi 1172.24 in books remaining in the custody of theCompany, to be given to Giovanni Domenico” (a sign that the music books – valued in 1631 at 143.00scudi, to which should be added 100.00 of sundry books – had remained in the latter’s custody). Ff.279v–306v provide the inventory of the volumes, divided into the following sections, besides the “Libridi musica”: “Medicina varia”, “Rossi e neri legati” (= missals, breviaries, etc.), “Libri di Venezia sciolti”,“Filosofia varia”, “Libri di gramatica varia”, “Teologia”, “Poeti latini”, “Comedie varie”, “Libri guastilegati e sc. dal fiume” (for about 60 scudi), “Libri sciolti di stampa di Roma”, “Libri sciolti rotti”. To thisdeed is attached a statement by the Compagnia di Sant’Anna, which reads, “dovendosi consegniare laportione de libri messi a parte che spetaveno alli heredi di Gio. Franzzino alias Picino ò Gio. BattistaFranzzini di Brescia e sui figlioli fidicommissari del q. Hieronimo Franzzini et essendo per occasionedella peste tutti morti […] et perchè per morte di detti Franzzini di Brescia succede in detto fidecomessoil sig. r Gio. Domenico Franzzini e sue sorelle chiamate in detto fidecomesso e stante le cose sudettee perchè detti libri erano tuttavia deteriorandossi per il tempo che li va consumando come ancole tarme e sorci si è perciò risoluto di consegnarli al sudetto signor Gio. Domenico Franzzini […]”.27. On his said activity, see: sartori, Dizionario, p. 69; franchi, Le impressioni sceniche, pp. 283–9. Thepresence of Giovanni Domenico is also recorded at the general meetings of the “Compagnia di S. Tomasod’Aquino de librari di Roma”, at the Church of S. Barbara de’ librari: see, for example, AS, 30 Not.Cap., uff. 31, vol. 142, f. 709 (1.4.1635) and f. 837 (22.4.1635).28. AS, 30 Not. Cap., uff. 25, vol. 245, f. 440, 25.4.1650.