Ardinghello, und die glückseeligen Inseln

Ardinghello, und die glückseeligen Inseln, a novel published in 2 vols. in 1787 by J. J. W. Heinse. A sub-title, Eine italiänische Geschichte aus dem sechszehnten Jahrhundert, was omitted in the second and later editions. The preface (Vorbericht) is dated 1785. The novel stems from Heinse's years in Italy (1780-3), his enthusiasm for Renaissance painting, and his sensual attraction to women.

Ardinghello (in reality Prospero Frescobaldi, a Florentine painter living in exile in Venice) represents an ideal of natural man, in whom courage, energy, and sexual prepotency are united. Having committed two murders in pursuit of his amours, he flees Italy for the islands of Paros and Naxos, where he establishes a Utopia of love with a new religion of Nature. In spite of an abundance of incident, the story, which is chiefly told through letters and conversations, contains many descriptions of Italian paintings and lengthy discussions of art.

An edition by M. L. Baeumer appeared in 1975.