How to become a renowned writer: Francesco Algarotti (1712-1764) and the uses of networking in eighteenth-century Europe Cheryl Lynn Smeall Department of History McGill University, Montreal August 2010 A thesis submitted to McGill University in partial fulfilment of the requirements of the degree of Doctor of Philosophy © Cheryl Lynn Smeall, 2010 Table of Contents Abstract vii Résumé ix Acknowledgements xi List of Figures xiv List of Abbreviations xv Introduction: Algarotti’s place in the history of eighteenth-century Europe 1 Historiography of Algarotti Why study Algarotti? Intellectual glory: what Algarotti wanted The importance of networks: the tactics Algarotti made use of in trying to achieve his goals Scholarly conditions in Italy Scholarly conditions in France Scholarly conditions in England Methodology Summary of chapters Conclusion 1 Networking starts at home: Algarotti’s Italian contacts and how he came to form them 54 Initial contacts Advertising intellectual talents: science Using science to meet others Forging contacts through written works Forging contacts through travel Intellectual and financial conditions in Italy: further motivations for travel Conclusion 2 Cultivating networks in cultural capitals: Algarotti’s travels in Paris and London, 1734-1736 102 The intellectual and cultural capital of the world: France in the eighteenth century Science in Paris in the eighteenth century How Algarotti’s reputation and connections helped him to penetrate Parisian scientific circles Other factors that enabled Algarotti to expand his Parisian networks: cosmopolitanism and poetry Invitations to Lapland and Cirey Algarotti at Cirey On to England London: the other intellectual capital of Europe The results of reputation and connections: membership to the Royal Society and the Society of Antiquaries Forming contacts in the English literary community The link between networking and romance: Algarotti, Hervey, and Wortley Montagu Publication problems Conclusion 3 International fame: Il Newtonianismo per le dame 146 Scientific popularizations Women Algarotti’s view of the intellectual capabilities of women Fontenelle Voltaire The Index of Forbidden Books The impact of the Newtonianismo on the spread of Newtonian ideas in Italy: Zanotti’s Della forza attrattiva delle idee Conclusion 4 From West to East: Algarotti’s pan-European search for opportunity 180 Success and scandal: The Newtonianismo in Italy French controversy, French fame: Le Newtonianisme pour les dames Attempts to translate fame into fortune: return to England The state of Russia in the eighteenth century Strangers in a strange land: western Europeans in Russia Algarotti in Anna’s St. Petersburg Failed attempts, fortuitous meetings: the trip back to England Conclusion 5 Calling all scholars: Algarotti’s first tenure at the court of Frederick II, 1740-1742 216 Initial impressions Intellectual flirtation Rheinsberg: the Cirey of Prussia New commitments Rivalry Disillusionment Separation: mission to Turin Things fall apart Conclusion 6 The art of networking and networking through art: Algarotti at the court of Augustus III, Elector of Saxony and King of Poland, 1742-1747 254 “The Paris of Germany”: Dresden in the eighteenth century Enlarging networks and creating prospects Art collecting in eighteenth-century Venice Algarotti as art collector in Venice Demonstration of worth: the art collector and the art The worth of the art collector’s network: Algarotti’s use of intermediaries The Rossi affair In search of a title In search of new prospects Conclusion 7 The importance of networks: Algarotti’s second tenure at the court of Frederick II, 1747-1753 303 Initial disillusionment: the reasons why intellectuals had left Frederick’s court in the early 1740s Change in atmosphere and attitude: why Maupertuis and Voltaire decided to return Selling the new Frederick: wooing Algarotti back Keeping options open through the maintenance of networks: Algarotti’s intellectual pursuits Keeping Algarotti satisfied: his official duties at Frederick’s court The universal usefulness of networks: Algarotti’s associates seek to exploit their connection with him Some people never change, part one: Algarotti attempts to find a new position Some people never change, part two: the old Frederick resurfaces Old habits die hard: a poisonous atmosphere emerges Conclusion: there’s no place like home Conclusion: The effect of historical forces on Algarotti’s legacy 372 Appendices 391 Appendix 1: Figures Appendix 2: Cast of Characters Bibliography 405 vii Abstract Venetian polymath Francesco Algarotti (1712-1764) was an internationally-renowned intellectual in his time. In 1737, he published a wildly successful popularization of Newtonian science for women entitled Il Newtonianismo per le dame, or Newtonianism for the Ladies. The fame he acquired after its appearance continued to increase over the course of his career, with the result that he was invited to join the court of Frederick II (the Great) of Prussia, and subsequently that of Augustus III of Saxony-Poland. In addition his sojourns at their respective courts in Berlin and Dresden, Algarotti travelled to and lived in many other European cultural centres, including Venice, Bologna, Rome, Paris, London, and St. Petersburg. Over the course of his travels, he forged friendships with many of the leading thinkers of the period, including Eustachio Manfredi, Francesco Maria Zanotti, Laura Bassi, Voltaire, Emilie du Châtelet, Pierre-Louis Moreau de Maupertuis, Lord Hervey, Lady Mary Wortley Montagu, and Antioch Cantemir. These contacts, and the numerous others he would come to form, would prove to be indispensable in the pursuit of his intellectual and financial goals. Algarotti‘s ambition was to become an internationally renowned writer. In a century in which scholarship was becoming increasingly international, and the market for, and reach of, printed material was considerably widened, aspiring writers faced both increased opportunities for fame and greater competition in securing the financial support they needed in order to pursue their art. Algarotti‘s example illuminates both the structures viii behind these conditions, and the strategies that could be employed in order to negotiate them, in a pan-European context. As an examination of his activities reveals, the formation, expansion, and maintenance of one‘s networks was crucial to one‘s intellectual success in eighteenth-century Europe. ix Résumé Le penseur vénitien Francesco Algarotti (1712-1764) était un intellectuel de renommée internationale à son époque. En 1737, il a obtenu un franc succès en publiant un ouvrage de vulgarisation de la science newtonienne destiné à un public féminin, intitulé Il Newtonianismo per le dame, ou Le Newtonisme pour les dames. La notoriété qu‘Algarotti a acquise avec cette publication a continué d‘augmenter tout au long de sa carrière, et il fut conséquemment invité à joindre la cour de Frédéric II (Le Grand) de Prusse, puis celle d‘Auguste III de Saxe- Pologne. En plus de ses séjours aux cours respectives de Berlin et de Dresde, Algarotti a voyagé et vécu dans plusieurs autres centres culturels européens, y compris Venise, Bologne, Rome, Paris, Londres et Saint-Pétersbourg. Au cours de ses voyages, il a forgé des amitiés avec plusieurs des grands penseurs de son temps, parmi lesquels Eustachio Manfredi, Francesco Maria Zanotti, Laura Bassi, Voltaire, Émilie du Châtelet, Pierre-Louis Moreau de Maupertuis, Lord Hervey, Lady Mary Wortley Montagu et Antioch Cantemir. Ces relations, ainsi que de nombreuses autres qu‘il sera amené à développer, s‘avéreront indispensables dans la poursuite de ses objectifs intellectuels et financiers. L‘ambition d‘Algarotti était de devenir un écrivain internationalement reconnu. Ce dernier a vécu au cours d‘un siècle où le savoir devient de plus en plus international, un savoir à plus grande portée qui fait l‘objet d‘un marché, et dans lequel le monde de l‘imprimé s‘est considérablement développé. Les aspirants auteurs étaient confrontés, d‘une part, à ces opportunités accrues d‘acquérir la gloire, et d‘autre part, à davantage de x compétition afin de dénicher le support financier nécessaire à la poursuite de leur art. L‘exemple d‘Algarotti met en lumière les structures qui sous-tendent ces conditions, de même que les stratégies qui pouvaient être employées afin de les négocier, dans un contexte pan-européen. Ainsi que le révèle une analyse de ses activités, la formation, l‘expansion et le maintien de ses réseaux était cruciale afin d‘assurer son succès intellectuel dans l‘Europe du dix-huitième siècle. xi Acknowledgements While undertaking this study, I was fortunate to have had a great deal of support. I wish to express my heartfelt thanks to my co-supervisors Valentin Boss (McGill University) and Susan Dalton (Université de Montréal) for sharing their knowledge and expertise with me, and for their guidance, criticisms, and encouragement. They have both been inspirational mentors. I am also grateful to Nicholas Dew (McGill) for his useful comments and advice on my work. Many thanks to Paula Clarke (McGill) and Edoardo Giuffrida for their assistance in relation to my research trips, and for providing me with valuable bibliographic leads. I am grateful to my defense committee, Valentin Boss, Susan Dalton, Nicholas Dew, Paula Clarke, John Zucchi, Nikola von Merveldt, George Di Giovanni, and the external examiner, Paula Findlen, for providing me with excellent feedback with which to continue this project. I also wish to thank Paula Findlen for enabling me to obtain copies of the correspondence between Algarotti and Francesco Maria Zanotti held at the Museo Civico Correr, with out which this study would have suffered tremendously. I was fortunate to receive financial support from McGill University, in the form of a Graduate Student Excellence Award, and from the Department of History, in the form of the Robert Vogel Memorial Award and the Daisy A Latimer prize. I also received travel grants from McGill (SSHRC) and the Faculty of Arts (Arts Graduate Student Travel Award), which enabled me to undertake archival research in Italy. xii The assistance of the staff at several libraries has been indispensible to my research.