Camillo Boito
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Camillo Boito (1836-1914) was an Italian architect, engineer and art historian. He taught at the Venice School of Fine Arts, and was a noted art critic and novelist.
Boito studied architecture at the School of Fine Arts, in Venice. During his time there, he was influenced by Selvatico Estense, an architect who championed the study of the medieval art in Italy. He tought architecture at the School of Fine Arts until 1856 when he moved to Tuscany.
During his extensive work restoring ancient buildings, he tried to reconcile the conflicting views of his contemporaries on architectural restoration, notably those of Eugene Viollet-Le-Duc and John Ruskin.
Boito is perhaps most famous for his restoration of the Church and Campanile of Santi Maria e Donato at Murano, inspired by the theories and techniques of Eugene Viollet-Le-Duc. He also worked on the Porta Ticinese in Milan between 1856-1858 and famed Basilica of Saint Anthony in Padua in 1899.
Other architectural designs include Gallarate Hospital (in Gallarate, Italy) and a school in Milan. In the early 1900s, Boito helped shape Italian laws protecting historical monuments.
He also wrote several collections of short stories. Around 1882 he wrote his most famous novella, Senso, a disturbing tale of sexual decadence. In 1954, Senso was memorably adapted for the screen by Italian director Luchino Visconti. Another story, A body, has recently been adapted into an opera by Greek composer Charalampos Goyios.
He died in Milan in 1914.
Arrigo Boito, Camillo's younger brother, was a noted poet and librettist.
