Angelo Decembrio
Encyclopedia
Angelo Decembrio was a Milanese humanist who began his career in Ferrara
, where he arrived in 1430. The son of Uberto Decembrio, who was the first Renaissance translator of Plato's Republic
, and outshone among his contemporaries by his brother Pier Candido, Angelo is known especially for the seven books of literary dialogues of De politia litteraria ("On literary polish", not printed until 1540), which provide a vivid record— though synthesized in retrospect— of literary life at the court of Leonello d'Este
of Ferrara, Taking as its main concern the question of how to achieve and maintain the literary polish characteristic of the civilized man in a courtly environment
, Decembrio’s unique dialogues elaborating aspects of this central idea take as persona
e his patron Leonello d'Este, who serves as the questioner, with the great teacher Guarino of Verona, Leonello's former tutor; the architect, theorist and humanist Leon Battista Alberti; the poet Tito Vespasiano Strozzi
. They debate the comparative value of ancient and modern poetry, discuss the quality of works of art, examine the Egyptian obelisk that still stands in Vatican City in the Piazza S. Pietro; and describe the ideal renaissance library and how it should be organized.
Two manuscript versions of Decembrio's Politia litteraria were kept in the Vatican Library
; from one that was stolen and subsequently lost, the edition of 1540 was printed; the other remains in the Vatican.
After Leonello's unexpected death (1450) Angelo sought patronage elsewhere, moving first to Barcelona
, then spending time at the Neapolitan court of Alfonso the Great of Aragon
, where his brother also served, and returning to Barcelona after Alfonso's death in 1458, at the invitation of Carlos de Aragon, Prince de Viana. On his return trip to Ferrara, travelling with the books he had accumulated, he was robbed by bandits working for Jean d'Armagnac, itemizing his losses in a petition to Borso d'Este
, brother of Leonello and himself a great patron of humanistic learning.
In 1467 he was offered a chair in Greek at the University of Perugia
, but it is doubtful whether he took it up, and afterwards he disappears from view.
Ferrara
Ferrara is a city and comune in Emilia-Romagna, northern Italy, capital city of the Province of Ferrara. It is situated 50 km north-northeast of Bologna, on the Po di Volano, a branch channel of the main stream of the Po River, located 5 km north...
, where he arrived in 1430. The son of Uberto Decembrio, who was the first Renaissance translator of Plato's Republic
Republic (Plato)
The Republic is a Socratic dialogue written by Plato around 380 BC concerning the definition of justice and the order and character of the just city-state and the just man...
, and outshone among his contemporaries by his brother Pier Candido, Angelo is known especially for the seven books of literary dialogues of De politia litteraria ("On literary polish", not printed until 1540), which provide a vivid record— though synthesized in retrospect— of literary life at the court of Leonello d'Este
Leonello d'Este
thumb|220px|Leonello D'Este portrayed by Pisanello.Leonello d'Este was marquis of Ferrara and Duke of Modena and Reggio Emilia from 1441 to 1450.-Biography:...
of Ferrara, Taking as its main concern the question of how to achieve and maintain the literary polish characteristic of the civilized man in a courtly environment
Noble court
The court of a monarch, or at some periods an important nobleman, is a term for the extended household and all those who regularly attended on the ruler or central figure...
, Decembrio’s unique dialogues elaborating aspects of this central idea take as persona
Persona
A persona, in the word's everyday usage, is a social role or a character played by an actor. The word is derived from Latin, where it originally referred to a theatrical mask. The Latin word probably derived from the Etruscan word "phersu", with the same meaning, and that from the Greek πρόσωπον...
e his patron Leonello d'Este, who serves as the questioner, with the great teacher Guarino of Verona, Leonello's former tutor; the architect, theorist and humanist Leon Battista Alberti; the poet Tito Vespasiano Strozzi
Tito Vespasiano Strozzi
Tito Vespasiano Strozzi was a Renaissance poet at the Este court of Ferrara, who figures as an interlocutor in Angelo Decembrio's De politia litteraria ....
. They debate the comparative value of ancient and modern poetry, discuss the quality of works of art, examine the Egyptian obelisk that still stands in Vatican City in the Piazza S. Pietro; and describe the ideal renaissance library and how it should be organized.
Two manuscript versions of Decembrio's Politia litteraria were kept in the Vatican Library
Vatican Library
The Vatican Library is the library of the Holy See, currently located in Vatican City. It is one of the oldest libraries in the world and contains one of the most significant collections of historical texts. Formally established in 1475, though in fact much older, it has 75,000 codices from...
; from one that was stolen and subsequently lost, the edition of 1540 was printed; the other remains in the Vatican.
After Leonello's unexpected death (1450) Angelo sought patronage elsewhere, moving first to Barcelona
Barcelona
Barcelona is the second largest city in Spain after Madrid, and the capital of Catalonia, with a population of 1,621,537 within its administrative limits on a land area of...
, then spending time at the Neapolitan court of Alfonso the Great of Aragon
Alfonso V of Aragon
Alfonso the Magnanimous KG was the King of Aragon , Valencia , Majorca, Sardinia and Corsica , and Sicily and Count of Barcelona from 1416 and King of Naples from 1442 until his death...
, where his brother also served, and returning to Barcelona after Alfonso's death in 1458, at the invitation of Carlos de Aragon, Prince de Viana. On his return trip to Ferrara, travelling with the books he had accumulated, he was robbed by bandits working for Jean d'Armagnac, itemizing his losses in a petition to Borso d'Este
Borso d'Este
thumb|Borso d'Este, attributed to [[Vicino da Ferrara]], [[Pinacoteca]] of the [[Castello Sforzesco|Sforza Castle]] in [[Milan]], [[Italy]].Borso d'Este was the first Duke of Ferrara, which he ruled from 1450 until his death...
, brother of Leonello and himself a great patron of humanistic learning.
In 1467 he was offered a chair in Greek at the University of Perugia
University of Perugia
University of Perugia is a public-owned university based in Perugia, Italy. It was founded in 1308, as attested by the Bull issued by Pope Clement V certifying the birth of the Studium Generale....
, but it is doubtful whether he took it up, and afterwards he disappears from view.