Radaelli Under Fire: Giuseppe Perez

This is the sixth article in the 'Radaelli Under Fire' series. Click here to return to the introduction and view the other entries in the series.

Just as the Radaellian question appeared to fading from the minds of the public press, in comes another commentator. After receiving multiple public requests to provide his opinion on the matter (one of which we saw in the previous article), the highly respected Neapolitan master Giuseppe Perez responds to the call with a detailed critique focused solely on Radaelli's sword method. The booklet, entitled Il sistema di spada Radaelli giudicato dall'arte della scherma ('The Radaelli sword system judged by the art of fencing') was published in 1878, and although it only deals with the Radaellian sword material, it is the longest of the works in this series.¹ A copy of the original can be read here in the Corble Collection at KU Leuven.

***Click here to read the translation***

Similarly to Forte, Perez places Radaelli's method in contrast with the 'classical Italian school', but also takes this comparison a step further by citing the Marchionni's treatise on the mixed school as well as French authors to demonstrate how often Radaelli deviates from both the Italian and French traditions, thus calling into question how 'mixed' his system is, as opposed to being a pure invention of Radaelli himself. Perez shows himself to be well-read in fencing literature, and this knowledge leads to a very rigorous and laudable critique; however, whilst the Radaellian sword method deserved much of this criticism, Perez's many comparisons to Marchionni may be understating the diversity of the mixed school throughout much of the 19th century, and many of his insightful remarks are let down by nit-picking on terminology. The 10-page long quotation of Rosaroll & Grisetti's treatise in the section on the bout is also, in my view, rather excessive.

Giuseppe Perez was born around the year 1830, possibly in Naples, and was brought up in fencing from a young age under his father, Onofrio Perez, who had studied under Massimino Pepe (for some reason Perez gives his name as 'Anassimena Pepe') and Giuseppe Morbilli, two of the most renowned Neapolitan fencers from the first half of the 19th century. In 1860 he left Naples and moved to Cuneo, where he enlisted in the 1st Bersaglieri regiment. Here at the local military garrison Perez continued his fencing education, learning French foil from Colonel Maffi and sabre from a Polish immigrant named Stojoscki, who was said to specialise in false edge cuts. A few months later he joined Garibaldi's campaign in southern Italy as the fencing master of the Hungarian Legion, learning sabre fencing from a Hungarian fencer named Yessenschi.²

From 1864 to 1867 he was an assistant fencing master at the Modena military school alongside the famed Cesare Enrichetti. From here he moved to Verona and opened up his own fencing hall, also teaching fencing to the local military regiments for several years, even after regiments were no longer allowed to hire civilian fencing masters. In 1869 he founded a successful fencing equipment manufacturer, which was still in operation at least until the 1940s. In the last decade of his life Perez was a regular contributor to several sporting and fencing-focused magazines, writing about various topics such as standardising Italian fencing terminology, the declining standard of competitive fencing, and comparisons of the French and Italian schools of foil. He died in Verona in March 1894.

*******

1 Giuseppe Perez, Il sistema di spada Radaelli giudicato dall'arte della scherma (Verona: Gaetano Franchini, 1878).^↩
2 "Giuseppe Perez," Scherma Italiana, 15 February 1891, 19–20; Liberato De Amici, "Biografie di schermitori illustri: Giuseppe Perez," Baiardo: periodico schermistico bimensile, 8 September 1892, 61–2; Jacopo Gelli, Scherma Italiana, 15 March 1894, 22–3.^↩

Radaelli Under Fire: Achille Angelini

This is the first article in the 'Radaelli Under Fire' series. Click here to return to the introduction and view the other entries in the series.

The Radaellian method had several high-profile opponents in its heyday, and even among them General Achille Angelini was a particularly tenacious one. Veteran of all three Italian Wars of Independence, friend and aide-de-camp of King Vittorio Emanuele II, and notable duellist, by the 1870s Angelini had lived remarkable life. Known for his temerity and unshakeable patriotism, the 'cavalier without fear' made many friends and enemies throughout his long career, with the use of arms in all contexts being being a recurring topic in his work.¹ The first booklet in this series we will be looking at was written by Angelini, published in 1877 under the title Observations on the handling of the sabre according to the Radaelli method [Osservazioni sul maneggio della sciabola secondo il metodo Redaelli].

***Click here to read***

The scans of the original book can be found here through the Corble Collection at KU Leuven, along with hundreds of other rare fencing-related texts.

Focusing solely on sabre, Angelini’s booklet would quickly become the most widely cited critique on Radaelli's system, and was the only one cited in the 1884 report on the notorious anti-Radaellian fencing treatise commission, which was also chaired by Angelini himself. Comparing said report with this booklet, it is clear how much the views of the rest of the commission were influenced by Angelini's writing, as seen in their statement that Radaelli's system teaches to grip the sabre 'with great an incessant force', a prescription entirely fabricated by Angelini.²

Although Angelini states at the beginning that he had read Del Frate's 1876 book on Radaelli's system, Istruzione per la scherma di sciabola e di spada, he makes it clear that he did not consider the differences between this book and the 1868 version to be significant, and as such most of his quotes are taken from the earlier edition. In addition to citing Del Frate's book, Angelini also directs criticism at material taken from the 1873 cavalry regulations, which contain a cavalry-focused adaptation of Radaelli's method. It is unclear whether or not Radaelli was involved in writing these regulations (although Angelini takes it for granted that he was), but that did not prevent Angelini from giving him the blame for all the faults he finds in them, including criticisms for techniques and advice—such as the sweeping semi-circular parries and the maxim to focus on attacking rather than defending—which can be found in much earlier (pre-Radaellian) versions of the regulations, such as the 1853 Piedmontese cavalry instructions.

In addition to writing a very popular duelling code in 1883, Angelini would later resume the offensive against Radaellian fencing after reading Masiello's 1887 treatise, in which the author vehemently denounces the treatise competition and the modern Neapolitan school as represented in Masaniello Parise. When Angelini states at the end of his 1877 booklet that the only thing that would convince him to change his mind is arguments from Radaellians based on 'defined mathematical rules', as he professes to have given (a desire echoed by other critics of Radaelli), this may have influenced the way Masiello would later write his own treatise, which contains numerous mathematical discussions to justify his particular brand of Radaellian fencing. Judging by the statements in Angelini's second booklet, however, he did not find Masiello's proofs sufficiently convincing. In this second critical work, entitled Final word on the revived Angelini-Masiello matter and published in 1888, Angelini felt compelled to respond to the denunciation of the commission he presided over by largely restating the points he made in his 1877 booklet, also adding a summary of Masiello's 'contradictions' of what is written in Del Frate's Radaellian texts.

That same year, prolific author Jacopo Gelli responded to this in turn with his own booklet, a point-by-point response to Angelini's critique written in a tone that could at times be described as exasperated, but is overall a good demonstration of how the issues Angelini described in Radaelli's sabre method were often based more off bad readings of outdated material rather than what was actually being taught at the time.

*****

1 A. M. Adamoli-Castiglioni Branda, Cenni biografici del generale Achille Angelini (Florence: Bernardo Seber Successore Loescher, 1900).^↩
2 Paulo Fambri, "Relazione," in Masaniello Parise, Trattato teorico pratico della scherma di spada e sciabola: preceduto da un cenno storico sulla scherma e sul duello, (Rome: Tipografia Nazionale, 1884), i–xxxv.^↩

Student notes in two copies of Del Frate's treatise

*** Update: A third set of student notes has been found, as detailed here. ***

The period of study which this blog predominantly concerns itself with, i.e. the 19th and 20th centuries, is one which is so abundant in high-quality printed material that manuscripts are a relatively rare occurrence, unless one finds oneself rummaging through private collections, of which there exist several that are relevant to researchers of fencing. We inhabitants of the 21st century are extremely lucky to have the majority of one of these collections being digitised, free to access, and of high quality: the Archibald Corble collection, courtesy of the Katholieke Universiteit Leuven in Belgium.

It was by browsing through this truly amazing collection that I came across this unique copy of Del Frate's 1876 treatise Istruzione per la scherma di sciabola e di spada del Prof. Radaelli. What makes this version special is that blank folios were inserted in between each printed page. With this particular copy in the Corble collection, most of these blank pages contain the handwritten notes of none other than Luigi Barbasetti, made during the time he was at the Milan Fencing Master's School from 1880 to 1881 (aside from one page at the beginning written by Archibald Corble after he acquired the book in 1929).¹

Due in large part to Barbasetti's sometimes less-than-neat writing, my initial attempts at transcribing left several gaps and uncertainties, and so the transcription was shelved until I felt more confident in deciphering the scribbles or until I found someone more competent to assist. As it turns out, neither of these two events have yet occurred, but I was nevertheless able to improve the transcription significantly thanks to the help of Maestro Giancarlo Toràn, who was kind enough to supply me with scans of another copy of the Del Frate treatise with handwritten notes, this one being housed at the Silvio Longhi Museum at the Agorà della Scherma in Busto Arsizio. This second book of handwritten notes was owned by Giovanni Lombardi, fencing master of the 7th artillery regiment, who likely attended the Milan Master's School from November 1876 to October 1877.²

Lombardi's handwriting is much neater than Barbasetti's and therefore presented no issues at all in transcribing it. Minor odd discrepancies between the two manuscripts such as one author using an 'e' instead of an 'a' or confusing 'noi' and 'non' are good indicators that the students were copying this text from somewhere else, i.e. from a blackboard or another exemplar, as opposed to it being orally dictated to them.

The most significant difference, however, can be seen in the additional material found in the Barbasettti manuscript. Barbasetti's copy contains a set of question and answers at the end of the sabre and sword material, similar to those which would be seen in later editions of Masaniello Parise's treatise,³ as well as section on 'tempo' in the sword material, while Lombardi's contains neither. Therefore most of the transcription uncertainties are contained in these sections, as it was not possible to cross-reference with Lombardi's manuscript.

Below are the links to the individual transcriptions, as well as a side-by-side comparison of the two in which I have highlighted in blue the parts of Lombardi's text which show noteworthy difference to Barbasetti's.

Barbasetti manuscript transcription

Lombardi manuscript transcription

Side-by-side comparison

The content of these handwritten notes do not introduce any techniques that are not already in Del Frate's textbook, but they do expand on them in mainly a tactical and pedagogical sense. Both the sabre and sword sections begin with the pedagogical progression for the master to follow with their students, followed by commentary on each technique.

An example of the elaboration provided by the notes is seen in the following useful remarks on Radaelli's guard of 2nd, remarks which are very similar to those seen in Del Frate's 1868 book, but which were curiously omitted in the 1876:

In general the guard most used by other methods for the bout is the guard of 3rd, but this presents some weak aspects and is dangerous due to coupés and manchettes. Among all the guards, the one which presents the greatest ease to rush to all the parries and which is the most rich in ripostes is the guard of 2nd, somewhat high and correct.

In this guard the hand must be at the height and in the direction of the chin, the point 20 cm lower than the hand and in line with the left flank, the sabre across the body, edge diagonally up.

In this position we will have the advantage of having the forearm sufficiently covered and the ability to rush to the parries of 1st, 2nd, and 5th, which are the most rich in ripostes and allows a quick riposte by thrust.

In this guard position it will be necessary to practice forearm rotations, moving the sabre from front to back, with the body advancing and withdrawing; in this movement the edge must never be turned. This movement is useful to not tire oneself, always staying firm in the same position and always leaving the opponent unsure of our action and our attack.

It will therefore be necessary in the last exercises for the student to be taught to attack in this position, which presents great difficulty because he is not yet accustomed to it, but in little time he will discover that the arm and the eye will become accustomed and he will appreciate its advantages.

The 'forearm rotation' described here may likely be referring to the exercise described by Rossi as 'Exercise for keeping to the parries of 2nd, 5th, and 1st' and by Pecoraro & Pessina as 'Exercise for the parries of first, second, and fifth'.⁴

As with this particular example, much of elaboration seen in the notes may be taken for granted by modern readers due to more comprehensive nature of later Radaellian treatises, but for the young student-masters at the Milan school these notes would have been hugely valuable, expanding on the relatively short Del Frate treatise and solidifying the oral advice they would be receiving during their studies.

I do hope to complete a translation of the manuscripts at some point in the future, preferably when the number of uncertainties have been reduced as much as possible, so if readers have any comments or suggestions to improve the Barbasetti transcription, I encourage you to do so here.

The fact that two copies of the Del Frate treatise exist containing additional unprinted folios inserted throughout indicates that these were special editions of the book given to students of the Milan Master's School. Given that well over 100 (even perhaps over 200) students attended the school in its 15 years of activity, there are likely many more copies of this nature waiting to be discovered and shared with the community. If you know of any, please do get in touch!

Special thanks again to the Katholieke Universiteit Leuven for their wonderful digitisation efforts and to Giancarlo Toràn for graciously taking the time to scan and share the Lombardi manuscript with me.

---

1 Barbasetti was likely in the course that graduated in October 1881, the exams for which are mentioned in Corriere della Sera, 27 October 1881, 2. If this course started at the same time of year as others (see note 2), then it likely began in November 1880. On the length of the course at the master's school, see Cesare Francesco Ricotti-Magnani, "N. 249. — ORDINAMENTO DELL'ESERCITO (Nota N. 29).— Istruttori e maestri di scherma per l'Esercito. — 4 dicembre", Giornale Militare 1874: Parte Prima, no. 44 (11 December 1874): 490.^↩

2 Lombardi's signature on the first two pages are both alongside a date, written as '16/12 - 76', which I have taken to mean 16 December 1876. This date would line up nicely with the course of 26 students which started at the Master's School in November 1876, announced in Corriere della Sera, 4 November 1876, 3. With a course length of one year (see note 1), it was likely Lombardi's course which was undergoing final exams in October 1877 as announced in Corriere della Sera, 9 October 1877, 3.^↩

3 Masaniello Parise, Trattato teorico pratico della scherma di spada e sciabola: preceduto da un cenno storico sulla scherma e sul duello (Turin: Casa Editrice Nazionale Roux e Viarengo, 1904), 343–52.^↩

4 Giordano Rossi, Manuale teorico-pratico per la scherma di spada e sciabola con cenni storici sulle armi e sulla scherma e principali norme pel duello (Milan: Fratelli Dumolard Editori, 1885), 198–9; Salvatore Pecoraro & Carlo Pessina, La Scherma di Sciabola: Trattato Teorico-Pratico (Viterbo: Tipografia G. Agnesotti, 1912), 75–6.^↩