ROSSINI Gioacchino (1792-1868) autograph manuscript signed, Bologna April 20, 18…
Description

ROSSINI Gioacchino (1792-1868)

autograph manuscript signed, Bologna April 20, 1848-Passy June 20, 1868; 6 pages in-4 in a booklet of 4 sheets of bluish paper bound with a small yellow and black cord; in Italian. Rossini's precious holograph will, extensively corrected and then cancelled five months before his death. [Rossini left at his death a colossal fortune valued at more than 2,500,000 gold francs]. This will was written by Rossini in Bologna on April 20, 1848. It foresees a sum intended to regulate his funeral and his burial in the concession which he possesses in the communal cemetery. He makes various legacies to his family: maternal uncle and aunt, and cousins. To his very dear wife Olympe, who was always an affectionate and faithful companion, he bequeaths in full ownership all his furniture, lingerie, tapestries, porcelain, vases, carriages, horses, bronzes, frames, etc., everything that is in his houses in the city and in the country; he excludes silverware, jewelry and precious objects (boxes, rings, chains, weapons, medals, watches...) which will be sold by his executors. His wife will be able to choose and take among his landed properties or his income the equivalent of the dowry brought at their marriage. He names his wife as usufructuary of all his goods for the rest of her life, and makes the municipalities of Bologna and Pesaro his heirs in equal shares, to found and endow a Liceo Filarmonico. He forbids these communities the slightest interference during the usufruct which his wife will be able to enjoy in all freedom. Then he appoints his executors: G. Zucchini, G. Gandolfi, with the assistance of R. Bajetti and Cl. Giovanardi. He gave alms to the Foundlings and to the Monte di Pietà of Bologna. He provides for a donation to his notary Cesare Stagni who helped him in the drafting of this will, and will establish an authentic copy. He reserves the possibility of modifying in the future this will that he affirms to be the expression of his ultimate will, and that he wrote entirely of his hand. Rossini corrected later this will, bringing in margin of the additions and modifications. He foresees, in case his parents legatees would have died before him, to transmit the sums to their children. He modifies the designation of his heirs, making his native town of Pesaro the sole heir to found a philharmonic Lyceum ("mia erede la Comunita di Pesaro mia Patria per fondo e dotazione di un Liceo Filarmonico da instituirsi in quella Città"). He appoints new executors: the marquis Carlo Bevilacqua and Marco Minghetti of Bologna, and in Paris Vincenzo Buffarini... Later still, on June 20, 1868, Rossini cancels this will, crossing out his first signature, and writing: " Quest Testamento è nullo. Rossini. Passy di Parigi 20 Giugno 1868 ".

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ROSSINI Gioacchino (1792-1868)

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