A family of printmaker-publishers in Catania

Crescenzio Galàtola (1813-1866), Michele Galàtola (1843-1917), Enrico Panzera Galàtola (1874-1929)

Abstract

In the present study, the historical frame of a family of printmaker-publishers in Catania, faded in the dynastic fogs of sterile weddings, the Galàtola: Crescenzio Galàtola (1813-1866), Michele Galàtola (1843-1917), Enrico Panzera Galàtola (1874-1929), journeymen of good taste and excellent contact network, is outlined to the best of accessible bibliographical sources. The professional and human events of the protagonists are described, starting from training of the founder Crescenzio in Naples, to the establishment of bourbon printing house in Catania in order to teach the printing art. It is also outlined the advent of a sophisticated printer of second generation, Michele, become knight of the realm and printer of cardinal Dusmet, and the third generation of printmaker-publishers, before the family sunset occurred in 1929. The printing factory «C. Galàtola» served the local potentates of its time: Municipality, Province and Prefecture, supplying a market of few readers. It had a strong editorial relationship with the Accademia Gioenia di Scienze Naturali and one feeble with the Regia Università. Being a positive example of city entrepreneurial activity, the Galàtola translated in a beautiful shape a huge amount of manuscripts of scholars, poets, architects, fencers, scientists and professors, clergymen and capuchin friars.