Figure 1.-- One of Mosè Bianchi genre works, 'The Schoolmaster' was painted in Milan, it is undated, but would have been painted around 1875-95. It looks to us like a depiction of an 18th century school. Much of Bianchi's impressive genre work depicted 18th century scenes, probably because they sold better than contemporary images. This of course affects the accuracyb of the image.

Italy did not exist in the 18th century. The Italian principalities that had led the European Renaissance and the revival of learning disappeared. There were major changes with Spain in the south and Austria in the north suffering defeats, but by the end if the century before the French Revolution, Austria controlled much of the north and Spain much of the South, and the Papal States controlling Rome and central Italy. Savoy which would become the kernel for the Kingdom of Italy, was a small principality in the western Alps. These political developments had a huge impact on Italian education. The Austrian Empire was a part of the German world and it was here (and in the fledgling American republic) that the idea of public education was born. Austria and the German states and Spain were very different. In the German state snot only was public education developing different. As a result, you have the beginning of public education and a very high level of literacy. Spain was very different. There was no substantial public education and a very low level of literacy. These differences developed in Austrian-controlled northern Italy. and Spanish controlled southern Italy. Emperor Joseph II (r 1765-90) promoted important reforms after 1770 and more forcefully after Maria Theresa's death (1780). He abolished the long-standing old system of public administration and magistratures (1786). In the short period before the French Revolution (1789), it was having some impact , but gradual the entrenched aristocracy prevailed after the defeat of Bonaparte (1814-15). Two developments that did have lasting impact was reducing the Catholic Church's power. Joseph's educational reform established popular elementary schools as well as new disciplines at the Palatine School of Milan and the University of Pavia. The declining power of the Church had educational consequences. The Church was not a major supporter of public education. In the South where Spain's influence prevailed and the governing and social system was largely feudal There were no educational reforms and no real effort to build a public education system.

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Created: 8:48 PM 3/28/2024
Last updated: 8:48 PM 3/28/2024