Algarotti, FRANCESCO, an Italian author, was born at Venice in 1712, studied in Rome and Bologna, and in his twenty-first year visited Paris, where he published Neutonianismo per le Donne (1733), the basis of his subsequent reputation. Until 1739, he lived in France. On his return from a journey to Russia, Algarotti became acquainted with Frederick the Great, who in 1740 made him a count; in 1747, chamberlain. Patronised also by Augustus III. of Poland, he lived alternately in
Berlin and Dresden until 1754, when he returned to Italy. He died March 3, 1764, at Pisa, where Frederick raised a monument to his memory. His reputation as a connoisseur is confirmed by his Saggi sopra le Belle Arti, and by the paintings he selected for the Dresden Gallery. His poetry displays no great genius; but his letters rank with the best in the Italian language. There is a good edition of his works in 17 vols. (Venice, 1791-94).