Bianchini (Blanchini), Giuseppe
Italian Oratorian, Biblical, historical, and liturgical scholar, b. at Verona, 1704; d. in Rome, 1764. Clement XII and Benedict XIV, who highly appreciated his learning, entrusted him with several scientific labours. Bianchini had contemplated a large work on the texts of the Sacred Scriptures, "Vindiciæ Canonicarum Scripturarum Vulgatæ latinæ editionis", which was to comprise several volumes, but only the first, in which, among other things, are to be found fragments of the "Hexapla" (cod. Chisianus), was published (Rome, 1740). Much more important is his "Evangeliarium quadruplex latinæ versionis antiquæ", etc., 2 vols. (Rome, 1749). Among his historical labours may be mentioned the fourth volume which Bianchini added to the publication of his uncle, Francesco Bianchini, "Anastasii bibliothecarii Vitæ Rom. Pontif." (Rome, 1735); he also published the "Demonstratio historiæ ecclesiasticæ quadripartitæ" (Rome, 1752–54). The chief liturgical work of Bianchini is "Liturgia antiqua hispanica, gothica, isidoriana, mozarabica, toletana mixta" (Rome, 1746). He also undertook the edition of the works of B. Thomasius (Tomasi), but only one volume was issued (Rome, 1741).
Villarosa, Memorie degli Scrittori Filippini (Naples, 1837); Mangenot, Joseph Bianchini et les anciennes versions latines de la Bible (Amiens, 1892); Hurter, Nomenclator, III, 71 sqq.
R. Butin.