JOHN MARIA, an Italian poet, was born at Macerata, in the march of Ancona, in 1663. His talents for poetry and eloquence early developed themselves. His verses at first had too much pomp and point; but by residing in Rome, and by reading the best Italian poets, he brought himself back to nature. And he not only reformed himself, but undertook to reform taste in general. With this view he projected the establishment of a new academy, under the name of Arcadia; the members of which at first did not exceed fourteen, but afterwards increased considerably. They called themselves the shepherds of Arcadia, and each took the name of some shepherd and some place in that ancient kingdom. The founder of this society was appointed chief director in 1690, and held this honourable post thirty-eight years, that is, until his death, which happened in the year 1728. In Nicen's list is given of his works, the principal of which are, 1. Istoria della volgar Poesia, Rome, 1698, 4to; 2. I Commerci intorno alla detta Istoria, 5 vols. 4to; 3. Le Vite dei più celebri poeti Provenzali tradotte dal Francese, e accresciute di moltissimi poeti, Rome, 1722, 4to; 4. Trattato della bellezza della volgar poesia, Rome, 1700, 4to; 5. Istoria d'Arcadia, Rome, 1709, 4to; 6. Istoria della Basilica di S. Maria in Cosmedin col ristretto di molte altre chiese di Roma, Rome, 1715, 1719, 4to; 7. Istoria della chiesa di S. Giovanni a porta Latina, Rome, 1716, 4to; 8. Istoria della Basilica di S. Anastasia, Rome, 1722, 4to; 9. Stato della sacrosanta chiesa papale Lateranese, Rome, 1724, 4to; 10. Omenic et Orazioni di papa Clemente XI, volgarizzate, Florence, 1704, 4to, Venice, 1714, 8vo; 11. Vita de Monsignore Gio. Maria Lancisi, medico di papa Clemente XI., Rome, 1721, 4to; 12. Vita di Monsignore Gabriello Filipucci, Rome, 1724, 4to; 13. Atti della coniazione del Cavaliere Peretti, fatta in Campidoglio, Rome, 1725, 4to; 14. L'Efebo, favola pastorale, Rome, 1695, 8vo; 15. Rime del Crescimbeni, Rome, 1695, 12mo; 16. Gli Apologi di Berardino Baldi tradotti in versi, Rome, 1702, 12mo; 17. Compendio della vita della beatissima Vergine, Rome, 1724, 16mo; besides a number of works edited by him.