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The Book-Shitter!

6/6/2019

 
Walking Tours of Venice
Statue of Niccolò Tommaseo by Francesco Barzargi, Venice
Niccolò Tommaseo by Francesco Barzaghi

The statue of Niccolò Tommaseo (1802-74), which stands in the centre of Campo Santo Stefano, was nicknamed El Cagalibri (the book-shitter) almost as soon as it was unveiled in 1882.
​
​The unfortunately placed books were added, not only as a reference to the intellectual qualities of Tommaseo, but also to support the marble figure. In addition to the Bible, the great journalist, linguist and editor of a multi-volume dictionary of the Italian language, is shown in the company of books by Dante and Homer.

The statue, the work of Francesco Barzaghi (1839-92), was erected in honour of the role Niccolò Tommaseo played in the short-lived Venetian Republic (1847-8). 

Statue of Niccolò Tommaseo by Francesco Barzaghi, Campo Santo Stefano, Venice
Niccolò Tommaseo by Francesco Barzaghi

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    Blogging about Venice:
    ​its art, history & culture. 

    My name is David Lown and I am an art historian from Cambridge, England.

    Since 200I I have been living in Italy, where I run
    ​ private tours of Florence, Rome &
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  • Private Tours
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