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Matteo Ripa (Eboli, 1682 - Naples, 1746) -- Catholic priest, missionary, scholar.

Matteo Ripa was an Italian priest who was sent as a missionary to China by Propaganda Fide, and between 1711 and 1723 worked as a painter and copper-engraver at the Manchu court of the Kangxi Emperor, under the Chinese name Ma Guoxian (馬國賢). In December 1723 Matteo Ripa left Beijing for Europe, travelling with four young Chinese Christians. His plan was to bring the youths to Naples, train them as priests, and let them go back to China as missionaries. This was the foundation of the "Collegio dei Cinesi" ("Chinese College") that would become the "Real collegio asiatico" ("Royal Asian College" in 1861 and then "L'Orientale University of Naples".