ARETINO, Pietro, a native of Arezzo, who lived in the sixteenth century. He was famous for his satirical writings; and was so bold as to direct his invectives even against sovereigns, and from thence got the title of the Scourge of Princes. Francis I., the Emperor Charles V., most of the princes of Italy, several cardinals, and many noblemen, courted his friendship by presents, either because they liked
his compositions, or perhaps from an apprehension of falling under the lash of his satire. Aretino became so insolent, that he is said to have got a medal struck, on one side of which he is represented, with these words, Il divino Aretino; and on the reverse, sitting upon a throne, receiving the presents of princes, with these words, I principi tributati da popoli, tributano il servidor loro. Some imagine that he gave himself the title of Divine, signifying thereby that he performed the functions of a god upon earth, by the thunderbolts with which he struck the heads of the highest personages. He used to boast that his lampoons did more service to the world than sermons; and it was said of him, that he had subjected more princes by his pen than the greatest had ever done by their arms. Aretino wrote many irreligious and obscene pieces; such are his dialogues, called Ragionamenti. There is likewise imputed to him another very obscene performance, De omnibus Veneris schematibus. "It was about the year 1525 (says M. Chevillier, Origine de l'Imprimerie de Paris, p. 224) that Julio Romano, the most famous painter of Italy, instigated by the enemy of the salvation of mankind, invented drawings for 20 engraved plates; the subjects are so immodest that I dare only name them. Pietro Aretino composed sonnets for each figure. George Vasari, who relates this in his Lives of Painters, says he does not know which would be the greatest impurity, to cast one's eyes upon the drawings of Julio, or to dip into the verses of Aretino." Some say that Aretino changed his libertine principles; but however this may be, it is certain that he composed several theological or pious pieces. He wrote a paraphrase on the penitential psalms, and another on Genesis; the Life of the Virgin Mary, and that of St Catharine of Siena, and of St Thomas Aquinas. His familiar Letters were collected and published at Paris, in 6 vols. 8vo, 1609. He was author likewise of various poetical pieces, among which is a tragedy on the subject of the Horatii, possessed of considerable merit. He died in the year 1556, at the age of 65.