Enthralled by Zois’s knowledge and courtesy

Cattaneo and Scopoli in Ljubljana (April 1812)

Abstract

This article concerns an event that falls into the context of relations between intellectuals from Carniolan and Italian areas in the early nineteenth century. It relates to a brief stay made by Giovanni Scopoli Jr. and Gaetano Cattaneo, two officials from the Italian Kingdom, in Ljubljana on their journey across central Europe, as well as their visit to Sigmund Zois on 14 April 1812. The information presented is drawn partly from private correspondence (Scopoli’s letters to his wife) and partly from travel writings – more specifically, Cattaneo’s travel journal, which is as yet only partially published and which contains a chapter referring to their stop in Ljubljana. The article aims to highlight the extent to which the travellers’ erudition and personal interests affected their encounter with the Ljubljana environment and Baron Zois.