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Constantine, Donation of

(Encyclopedia)Constantine, Donation of, Lat. Constitutum Constantini, forged document, probably drafted in the 8th cent. It purported to be a grant by Roman Emperor Constantine I of great temporal power in Italy an...

Giordano, Luca

(Encyclopedia)Giordano, Luca lo͞oˈkä jōrdäˈnō [key], 1632–1705, Italian decorative painter, b. Naples. He was the pupil of Ribera and Pietro da Cortona. He imitated the works of the great masters with amaz...

Nicholas V, pope

(Encyclopedia)Nicholas V, 1397–1455, pope (1447–55), an Italian named Tommaso Parentucelli, b. probably Sarzana, Liguria; successor of Eugene IV. From Eugene IV he inherited the antipapal enactments of the Coun...

Kraus Trujillo, Alfredo

(Encyclopedia)Kraus Trujillo, Alfredo, 1927–99, Spanish lyric tenor, b. Canary Islands. Widely considered the finest light tenor of his time, he was admired for his bright timbre, fine phrasing, and acting skill....

Raabe, Wilhelm

(Encyclopedia)Raabe, Wilhelm vĭlˈhĕlm räˈbə [key], 1831–1910, German novelist, whose pseudonym was Jakob Corvinus. At 23 he began to write novels and tales of village life; the charming idyll Die Chronik de...

Ricasoli, Bettino, Barone

(Encyclopedia)Ricasoli, Bettino, Barone bĕt-tēˈnō bärôˈnā rēkäzôˈlē [key], 1809–80, Italian political leader. An active propagandist for Italian unity, he became (1859) head of the provisional govern...

Florence, city, Italy

(Encyclopedia)Florence flôrˈəns, flŏrˈ– [key], Ital. Firenze, city (2021 est. metro area pop.709,064...

baptistery

(Encyclopedia)baptistery băpˈtĭstrē [key], part of a church, or a separate building in connection with it, used for administering baptism. In the earliest examples it was merely a basin or pool set into the flo...

pulpit

(Encyclopedia)pulpit, in churches, elevated platform with low enclosing sides, used for preaching the sermon. In the earliest churches the episcopal throne served this purpose. The boxlike elevated ambo of early me...

Orsini

(Encyclopedia)Orsini ōrsēˈnē [key], powerful Roman family that included three popes and numerous other churchmen, soldiers and statesmen. The eponymous ancestor was one Ursus. Giacinto Orsini, who became Pope C...