in Portugal and throughout Europe. It was in Berlin where his flaunting backfired on him. While performing in Prussia, he arrived in the capital city of Berlin in a coach drawn by four white horses. He was dressed as a nobleman of the highest rank. His chest was covered with chivalric orders. With all of this strutting, it was no doubt he was the talk of the town. The King of Prussia, known as Frederick the Great, strolled by in a much plainer coach pulled by only two horses. He saw his guard salute a man he never saw before. After some inquiry, he was told that it was magician Professor Pinetti. When Frederick the Great saw this he was so angry he ordered Pinetti to leave Berlin within twenty-four hours. He said that Berlin was not large enough for two reigning monarchs; the King of Prussia and the King of Conjurers. Pinetti went to Russia afterwards and was treated better by their ruling monarch. The Czar was so impressed by Pinetti's experiments that he gave the Professor a large ring and a diamond-studded medallion. While in Russia he made a fortune, but lost most of it in a bad investment on a partnership in balloon ascensions. Robert-Houdin mentions that Pinetti suffered from a long and cruel illness. With all of his wealth, he was reduced to poverty. He was taken in by a nobleman from the town of Berdichev in Volynia (modern-day Ukraine). The nobleman gave him shelter out of compassion for the dying man. Pinetti soon died of his illness. Publications Physical Amusements and Diverting Experiments (1784) References Journal de Paris, 20 December 1783, 18 March 1785. Mémoires secrets (so-called Bachaumont), XXIV, 103. XXV, 9. External links Pinetti, Philadelphia und Enslin, oder, Die enthüllten Zauberkräfte From Harry Houdini Collection in the Rare Book and Special Collection Division at the Library of Congress Physical amusements and diverting experiments From the Collections at the Library of Congress See also La Maison de la Magie Robert-Houdin Nicolas-Philippe Ledru Henri Descremps 1750 births 1800 deaths Italian magicians People from Orbetello