VII.viii. Neoclassicism

"Everything in Italy that is particularly elegant and grand ... borders upon insanity and absurdity—or at least is reminiscent of childhood."
- Alexander Herzen

Porfessor Cavina was remarkably open with us as we sped down the A14 in her Audi. We discussed all sorts of topics, many of which pertained to the sunken glory of the University system in Italy, the highs and lows of academic life. She was quite frank about Umberto Eco's somewhat questionable taste when describing his villa near Rimini. "Of course," she said, "it sounds nice, but it is not your normal villa. It is a convent designed in the nineteen-fifties. Concrete and linoleum. He does have rather amusing dinners, though, simply because he knows so many people. Roberto Benignini is often invited, along with his wife, what's-her-name, that nobody likes. Also that actress, Claire Bloom, who played alongside Chaplin in Limelight. She's there sometimes, alert as ever, without even a touch of that faded star disposition. Nick, are you copiloting? Make sure we don't miss the exit…"
    She had offered to drive my friend Matthew and I to Faenza for our class field trip, while our hundred or so classmates took the train. "I was going to take the disabled girl," she told us, "but when she backed out I decided I would content myself with the Canadians instead." Not able to find parking space in downtown Faenza, we were eventually let into the courtyard of Palazzo Milzetti, the object of our field trip. After an incredible yet crowded tour of the Villa's pristine neoclassical interior, she drove us back to Bologna, too.
    Yes, Matthew and I agreed, Professor Cavina had Sprezzatura, that somewhat intangible manifestation of effortless grace, of excellence in every endeavour. She was cosmopolitan yet grounded at the same time, equally comfortable interacting with the greatest academic stars of the age and the most humble of students. She didn't hesitate to treat us as friends, to show interest, to go beyond what most of her colleagues did. She was the real thing.