Boito, Arrigo

BOITO, Arrigo, an Italian poet and composer, born at Padua, Feb. 24, 1842. His father was an Italian painter, and his mother a Polish lady, which to a great extent accounts for the blending of northern and southern inspiration that is the characteristic of all Arrigo Boito's poetical and musical works. From an elder brother, Camillo, an eminent architect, critic and novelist, Arrigo acquired from his early years a taste for poetry. It may be said here that it was...