Translation - Del progresso della scherma in Italia by Salvatore Arista

After the 1884 Commission which replaced Radaelli's fencing masters school in Milan with that of Parise in Rome, there was naturally a lot of outrage from the Radaellians. The translated work I present to you today is a good example of that outrage. This booklet by Salvatore Arista was released in that same year, and its full title is Del progresso della scherma in Italia: Considerazioni sull'impianto della nuova scuola magistrale per l'esercito fondata in Roma nel 1884, or in English, "On the progress of fencing in Italy: Considerations on the establishment of the new masters school for the army founded in Rome in 1884".

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1jOWC5x3I42YazYqVQl3dqu9dPQ4m7WM_/view?usp=sharing

Arista being one of the most prominent Radaellians of the time, this booklet is a good reflection of the Radaellians' outrage following the 1884 Commission. It is filled with emotion, accusations, and the occasional snide remark levelled at Radaelli's opponents. The booklet is divided into three sections; the first is a brief history of Radaelli’s school and its achievements, the second a damning critique of the 1884 Commission's report, and the third is Arista's comments on Parise's treatise itself.

Special thanks to Biblioteca comunale dell'Archiginnasio for providing me with the scans.

Who is Salvatore Arista?

Since I will soon be releasing translations of a couple of this man's articles, I thought it prudent to explain who Salvatore Maria Arista is and his significance in relation to the Radaellian lineage. To do this, we will turn once again to what Gelli had to say about him in Bibliografia Generale della Scherma:

[Translation updated 2022/05/20]

 

As long as Arista, Masiello, Pecoraro, and Rossi do not abandon their theories, Radaellianism will continue to ascend its parable of victory.

Arista was born in Palermo in 1856. At the age of 17 he enlisted into the Asti training battalion, and in 1873 he dedicated himself to fencing, driven by Roggia and Milanesi, both excellent Radaellians, who had discovered in Arista the favourable aptitudes of mind and body to become an extraordinary fencer. In Sinigaglia he passed under the direction of Cavalli, who taught him the play of the sword, making him study all day, only allowing him few and short rests.

Towards the end of 1875 Arista was sent to Radaelli in Milan, whom he was very dear to, confident of having found in the young disciple a worthy and loyal continuer of his theories.

Arista was sent to Rome in 1876 by the Ministry of War to represent the Master's School of the army at the fencing congress and tournament, and in the final competition he defeated Baron Miceli, grand champion of the Neapolitan school, which was hurriedly trying to establish superiority over the Radaelli system.

The Neapolitan school was overcome by Masiello, Pecoraro, Rossi, Pagliuca, Scarani, Cerchione, Barraco, and Ciullini. Arista, the main victor, was appointed master for the Turin Military Academy.

At the 1881 international tournament in Milan, held on the occasion of the National Exhibition, along with Pecoraro and other Radaellians, not only did they and Arista defeat the Neapolitan school again, which had convened there in large numbers, but they also affirmed the superiority of the new Italian fencing system over the French system, represented by Paul Ruzé and Ayat, and the German system represented by Hartl.

Arista was awarded the prize to best fencer of the tournament.

While the Radaellians won 15 of the 21 prizes, only 5 touched the School of Naples and one, well deserved, to the French.

At the end of 1881 Arista moved to Trieste, where he and Reich reorganised the training of the local fencing society, abolishing the Slavic method which had dominated there for about 30 years.

Since 1886 Arista has lived in Bologna, where he applies the Radaellian theories with ever increasing success.

As for his publications on fencing, my translations of the only two that I am aware of (so far) will be posted here in the coming weeks.

As an added bonus, I leave you with an additional photo of this dashing maestro.