What archival materials can we find today in Padua that shed light on Tartini’s teaching activities? This was the question guiding Agnese’s first foray into the State Archive of Padua. The aim was to become familiar with the archive and to lay the groundwork for more systematic research in the future.

The first goal was to determine what survived of the stati delle anime (parish census records) from Tartini’s active period, and whether this type of documentation could provide new insights for the project. It appears, however, that the diocesan archive does not preserve the censuses of the central churches of Padua – and, at present, access to that archive is not possible.

The State Archive, by contrast, preserves not only Napoleonic and post-Napoleonic civil registers but also some limited eighteenth-century documentation. In particular, Agnese consulted the name lists compiled in 1739 – the only census surviving in the archive – discovering the names of some musicians and performers associated with the Basilica of Saint Anthony, including, as expected, Tartini and his wife Caterina. These lists are typically organized within each church or parish into three categories: nobili, benestanti, and miserabili – the term used for individuals of modest means who lived by simple labor. Immersing oneself in these records is a poignant way to enter a distant world and to glimps the everyday life of Tartini. Handling the documents directly profoundly enriches research perspectives, even if the kinds of discoveries are modest. The atmosphere of the archive – with passionate scholars diligently sifting through fonds and folders, sometimes filled with barely legible documents – was truly inspiring. The staff and fellow researchers were exceptionally kind, always ready to help and share information. It felt like being welcomed into a community of dedicated historians. And yes – the “archival angel” even made an appearance! The full story of that encounter, and what remains to be discovered, will have to wait for the next chapter.