GIOVANNI ANtONIO MASSINONI’S IL FLAGELLO DELLE MERETRICI ET LA VIRTù DONNESCA NEI FIGLIUOLI

This article analyses the booklet Il Flagello delle Meretrici et la Virtù Donnesca nei Figliuoli by Giovanni Antonio Massinoni (XVI–XVII centuries). The first part of the article presents a bio-bibliographical profile of the author, based on the little information that is available, and gives an overview of the diffusion of the book. The second part analyses the text. The structure of Il Flagello is presented first in the context of the misogynous tradition; then, La Nobiltà Donnesca nei Figliuoli will be examined. The last section contains an attempt to explain the reasons why two texts that are apparently in contradiction with one another are included in the same book and are part of the book’s title.