Andrea da Grosseto
Encyclopedia
Andrea da Grosseto was an Italian writer of the 13th century.
in the first half of 1200, not much is known of his literary work and his life, except that he probably belonged to a family of shoe-makers named Bento and that he became a Franciscan
friar in the church of San Francesco in Grosseto. After this, Andrea moved to Paris, where he taught literature and the art of poetry. In 1268 he translated the Moral Treaties of Albertanus of Brescia
from Latin
into vernacular
. His contribution to Italian literature
is significant, as he is considered by some to be the first writer in the Italian language.
Francesco Selmi
, a scholar who almost by chance discovered the first manuscripts of this writer, while examining the codes of the Magliabechiana Library
of Florence
for a study regarding Dante Alighieri
, realized the importance of the discovery and he worried about making it known to the public and other prominent literary scholars and critics. Selmi himself searched to find something more about his life and his carrier, but to no end.
In February 2009 Professor Laura Luzzetti Amerini revealed, after doing some studies, at a conference regarding the writer at the Archivio di Stato in Grosseto, that Andrea da Grosseto wasn't actually the same Andrea Bento the shoe-maker, belonging to the Order of Friars Minor as Selmi and many other scholars had theorised. According to Amerini the real Andrea da Grosseto was a layman and probably father of a certain Giovanna di Bartolo, as is written in a document by a notary released in Grosseto in the 14th century.
, with the support of Francesco Zambrini, president of the Commissione per i Testi di Lingua, and of professor Emilio Calvi of the Magliabechiana Library
, began a survey on the codes of vulgarisation, for a correct transposition to be able to publish and let everyone read. As some codes of the Grossetan vulgarizer were damaged, he used the translation done by Soffredi del Grazia in 1278, and the original Latin texts by Albertanus
, kept in Turin
, which could be consulted by Selmi under the supervision of professor Gorresio, Prefect of the Library, with the permission of the Ministry of Public Education
. After an accurate job the scholar managed to trascribe all three of the Treaties, including the incomplete text, and to publish them.
The importance of the discovery was immediately recognised, mainly for three particular reasons which, as Selmi specified, make the heirloom of Andrea da Grosseto the most remarkable document in literary prose in the Italian language:
And so Andrea da Grosseto was the first to intend to use vernacular
as a national unifying language from the North to the South of the entire Peninsula
.
Another hypothesis which Selmi proposed is that Dante Alighieri had known and read the work of the Grossetan writer and that he had been inspired by him for the drafting of his own work in the national dialect, understandable to all the inhabitants of the entire peninsula. The hypothesis is justified by the fact that, in all the ancient codes of Dante's Comedy that are known, there is a change of the letter n for the letter r within the verbs (for example, possoro instead of possono, correct Italian word for they can), an orthographic form which had never been seen before in codes dating previously to Dante's time, except that one the works of Andrea da Grosseto. And so there is the possibility that the Grossetan author, following a desinence of his own dialect, introduced this orthographic form in the written work and that Dante had made use of this form. But although some scholars are in agreement with this hypothesis, the matter has not been addressed since and still remains to be cleared with certainty.
from Latin into Italian vernacular.
The translated Treaties are:
Biography
Born in GrossetoGrosseto
Grosseto is a city and comune in the central Italian region of Tuscany, the capital of the Province of Grosseto. The city lies 14 km from the Tyrrhenian Sea, in the Maremma, at the centre of an alluvial plain, on the Ombrone river....
in the first half of 1200, not much is known of his literary work and his life, except that he probably belonged to a family of shoe-makers named Bento and that he became a Franciscan
Franciscan
Most Franciscans are members of Roman Catholic religious orders founded by Saint Francis of Assisi. Besides Roman Catholic communities, there are also Old Catholic, Anglican, Lutheran, ecumenical and Non-denominational Franciscan communities....
friar in the church of San Francesco in Grosseto. After this, Andrea moved to Paris, where he taught literature and the art of poetry. In 1268 he translated the Moral Treaties of Albertanus of Brescia
Albertanus of Brescia
Albertanus of Brescia , author of Latin social treatises and sermons.-Biography:...
from Latin
Latin
Latin is an Italic language originally spoken in Latium and Ancient Rome. It, along with most European languages, is a descendant of the ancient Proto-Indo-European language. Although it is considered a dead language, a number of scholars and members of the Christian clergy speak it fluently, and...
into vernacular
Vernacular
A vernacular is the native language or native dialect of a specific population, as opposed to a language of wider communication that is not native to the population, such as a national language or lingua franca.- Etymology :The term is not a recent one...
. His contribution to Italian literature
Italian literature
Italian literature is literature written in the Italian language, particularly within Italy. It may also refer to literature written by Italians or in Italy in other languages spoken in Italy, often languages that are closely related to modern Italian....
is significant, as he is considered by some to be the first writer in the Italian language.
Francesco Selmi
Francesco Selmi
Francesco Selmi was an Italian chemist and patriot, one of the founders of colloid chemistry.Selmi was born in Vignola, then part of the Duchy of Modena and Reggio. He became head of a chemistry laboratory in Modena in 1840, and a professor of chemical pharmacology and toxicology at the University...
, a scholar who almost by chance discovered the first manuscripts of this writer, while examining the codes of the Magliabechiana Library
National Central Library (Florence)
The Biblioteca Nazionale Centrale di Firenze is a public national library in Florence, the largest in Italy and one of most important in Europe, one of the two central libraries of Italy, along with the Biblioteca Nazionale Centrale of Rome.-History:...
of Florence
Florence
Florence is the capital city of the Italian region of Tuscany and of the province of Florence. It is the most populous city in Tuscany, with approximately 370,000 inhabitants, expanding to over 1.5 million in the metropolitan area....
for a study regarding Dante Alighieri
Dante Alighieri
Durante degli Alighieri, mononymously referred to as Dante , was an Italian poet, prose writer, literary theorist, moral philosopher, and political thinker. He is best known for the monumental epic poem La commedia, later named La divina commedia ...
, realized the importance of the discovery and he worried about making it known to the public and other prominent literary scholars and critics. Selmi himself searched to find something more about his life and his carrier, but to no end.
Controversy
In the course of the 1900 Andrea da Grosseto's figure was studied by many researchers, who mistook the writer for a Beato Andrea who had died in the 15th century in the Convento della Nave in Montorsaio.In February 2009 Professor Laura Luzzetti Amerini revealed, after doing some studies, at a conference regarding the writer at the Archivio di Stato in Grosseto, that Andrea da Grosseto wasn't actually the same Andrea Bento the shoe-maker, belonging to the Order of Friars Minor as Selmi and many other scholars had theorised. According to Amerini the real Andrea da Grosseto was a layman and probably father of a certain Giovanna di Bartolo, as is written in a document by a notary released in Grosseto in the 14th century.
Vulgarisation
Francesco SelmiFrancesco Selmi
Francesco Selmi was an Italian chemist and patriot, one of the founders of colloid chemistry.Selmi was born in Vignola, then part of the Duchy of Modena and Reggio. He became head of a chemistry laboratory in Modena in 1840, and a professor of chemical pharmacology and toxicology at the University...
, with the support of Francesco Zambrini, president of the Commissione per i Testi di Lingua, and of professor Emilio Calvi of the Magliabechiana Library
National Central Library (Florence)
The Biblioteca Nazionale Centrale di Firenze is a public national library in Florence, the largest in Italy and one of most important in Europe, one of the two central libraries of Italy, along with the Biblioteca Nazionale Centrale of Rome.-History:...
, began a survey on the codes of vulgarisation, for a correct transposition to be able to publish and let everyone read. As some codes of the Grossetan vulgarizer were damaged, he used the translation done by Soffredi del Grazia in 1278, and the original Latin texts by Albertanus
Albertanus of Brescia
Albertanus of Brescia , author of Latin social treatises and sermons.-Biography:...
, kept in Turin
Turin
Turin is a city and major business and cultural centre in northern Italy, capital of the Piedmont region, located mainly on the left bank of the Po River and surrounded by the Alpine arch. The population of the city proper is 909,193 while the population of the urban area is estimated by Eurostat...
, which could be consulted by Selmi under the supervision of professor Gorresio, Prefect of the Library, with the permission of the Ministry of Public Education
Ministry of Public Education (Italy)
The Ministry of Public Education was was the organ of the Italian Republic devoted to the administration of the national education system...
. After an accurate job the scholar managed to trascribe all three of the Treaties, including the incomplete text, and to publish them.
The importance of the discovery was immediately recognised, mainly for three particular reasons which, as Selmi specified, make the heirloom of Andrea da Grosseto the most remarkable document in literary prose in the Italian language:
- The first reason is that the text has the certain date of 1268, with the name of the author and the place of vulgarisation being Paris.
- The second reason is that the text is written in the Italian language, without too many redundancies and constructions, words and typical ways of speech of the vernacular and the dialect.
- The third reason is the absolute testimony that the writer intended to not utilise his own Grossetan dialect, but to use a general "Italian national language". In fact he twice refers to the vernacular which he uses defining it italico (Italic).
And so Andrea da Grosseto was the first to intend to use vernacular
Vernacular
A vernacular is the native language or native dialect of a specific population, as opposed to a language of wider communication that is not native to the population, such as a national language or lingua franca.- Etymology :The term is not a recent one...
as a national unifying language from the North to the South of the entire Peninsula
Italy
Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
.
Another hypothesis which Selmi proposed is that Dante Alighieri had known and read the work of the Grossetan writer and that he had been inspired by him for the drafting of his own work in the national dialect, understandable to all the inhabitants of the entire peninsula. The hypothesis is justified by the fact that, in all the ancient codes of Dante's Comedy that are known, there is a change of the letter n for the letter r within the verbs (for example, possoro instead of possono, correct Italian word for they can), an orthographic form which had never been seen before in codes dating previously to Dante's time, except that one the works of Andrea da Grosseto. And so there is the possibility that the Grossetan author, following a desinence of his own dialect, introduced this orthographic form in the written work and that Dante had made use of this form. But although some scholars are in agreement with this hypothesis, the matter has not been addressed since and still remains to be cleared with certainty.
Works
In 1268 Andrea da Grosseto translated the Moral Treaties of Albertanus of BresciaAlbertanus of Brescia
Albertanus of Brescia , author of Latin social treatises and sermons.-Biography:...
from Latin into Italian vernacular.
The translated Treaties are:
- Della consolazione e dei consigli, vulgarisation of the Liber Consolationis et Consilii.
- Dottrina del tacere e del parlare, vulgarisation of the Liber Doctrina Dicendi et Tacendi.
- Dell'amore e della dilezione di Dio e del prossimo e delle altre cose (incomplete), vulgarisation of the Liber de Amore et Dilectione Dei et Proximi et Aliarum Rerum et de Forma Vitae.