Alessandro Cicarelli Manzoni: Bridging Neoclassicism and Italian Nationalism Alessandro Cicarelli Manzoni, a name perhaps less familiar than many of his contemporaries, nevertheless stands as a pivotal figure in 19th-century Italian art and education. Born Alessandro Ciccarelli in Naples in 1811, he later adopted the surname “Manzoni,” reflecting a deliberate effort to forge an identity rooted in both his Neapolitan heritage and his burgeoning connection to the rising tide of Italian nationalism. His career spanned decades, marked by a fascinating journey from theatrical drama and historical…