Niccolini, Giovanni Battista (1782–1861)

Italian poet and dramatist. His first poem was La Pietà 1804, influenced by Vincenzo Monti. His first dramatic work was the tragedy Polissena 1810, followed by Ino e Temisto, Edipo, and Medea. The first of his political dramas, Nabucco, appeared 1815; Antonio Foscarini 1827 is another invective against absolute power. Arnaldo da Brescia 1843 is generally considered his masterpiece.