Beside his poetical talent, he
studied astronomy, probably under Galileo; and painting, in which he was
a pupil of Lorenzo Lippi, author of the "Malmantile Raqquistato," who
thus designates him under his academical name of _Amostante Latoni_
(canto i. stanza 61.):--
"E General di tutta questa Mandra
Amostante Laton Poeta insigne.
Canta improviso, come un Calandra:
Stampa gli Enigmi, 'Strologia, e Dipigne."
Malatesti was a member of the Academy degli Apatisti, of which Milton's
friends Coltellini and Carlo Dati had been the principal founders. The
house of the latter was a court of the Muses, and it was at the evening
parties there that all who were distinguished for science or literature
assembled: "Era in Firenze la sua Casa la Magione de' Letterati,
particolarmente Oltramontani, da lui ricevuti in essa, e trattati con
ogni sorta di gentilezza."[1] Heinsius, Menage, Chapelain, and other
distinguished foreigners were members of this academy; and it is more
than probable that, were its annals consulted, our poet's name would
also be found there.
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