Giovanni Antonio Campani
Encyclopedia
Giovanni Antonio Campani called Campanus (27 February? 1429 — 15 July 1477), a protegé of Cardinal Bessarion, was a Neapolitan-born humanist at the court of Pope Pius II
, whose funeral oration he wrote, followed by a biography, flattering but filled with personal reminiscence, written ca 1470-77. Campanus was famous for his Latin orations, poems and letters. In addition to Bessarion's Academy, Campanus was a member of the Roman circle of Pomponius Leto
. After the death of the Pope in 1464, Campani taught at the Florentine Academy.
Campanus was known for his Latin poetry. The famous four epigram
matic lines on a sleeping nymph
Huius nympha loci..., thought to be of Roman origin until revealed as a product of Renaissance humanism
by Theodore Mommsen, were identified as Campani's from a note in a manuscript in the Bibliotheca Ricciardiana, Florence.
He wrote a vita in Latin of the condottiero Braccio Fortebracci da Montone
.
Giovanni Battista Campani was born at Cavelli, near Galluccio, in the province of Caserta
, to a family of very modest condition, in the midst of the war between Angevin and Aragonese contenders for the Kingdom of Naples
. A place as tutor to the sons of the noble Carlo Pandoni, where he spent six years, brought him to the notice of Michel Ferno. In 1452 he went to Perugia
, under the patronage of the Baglioni
, and, to his Latin added Greek, under the guidance of Demetrius Chalcondyles
. Having been part of the loyal embassy sent on the city's behalf to Pope Callixtus III
in 1455, on his return was called to the chair of rhetoric at the University of Perugia
, 16 November 1455. At the elevation of Aeneas Silvius Piccolomini to the papacy as Pope Pius II
in August 1458, Campani was again among the delegation from Perugia. It was Giacomo Cardinal Ammannati, apostolic secretary, who introduced him to the learned humanist
Pius II, who named him bishop of Crotone in Calabria, 20 October 1462, the first of a series of episcopal appointments that found Campani at last Bishop of Teramo (23 May 1463). In Rome Campani was attached as secretary to the household of Alessandro Cardinal Oliva.
After Oliva's death in 1463, Campani joined the familia of Pius' nephew Francesco Todeschini Piccolomini
(later briefly pope as Pius III), whom he accompanied to Germany in 1471. Following the death of Pius, his relations with Paul II
deteriorated, but he was protected from the persecution of the humanists in 1468. Under Sixtus IV
he was appointed governor of Todi
(1472) and Città di Castello
(1474), but his public comparison of papal military activities with the Turks
resulted in his permanent disgrace. He died in Siena
and is buried in the Duomo.
An Opera Campani Omnia edited by Michele Ferno, published at Rome, contains an introductory vita
(2nd edition, Venice, 1495).
Pope Pius II
Pope Pius II, born Enea Silvio Piccolomini was Pope from August 19, 1458 until his death in 1464. Pius II was born at Corsignano in the Sienese territory of a noble but decayed family...
, whose funeral oration he wrote, followed by a biography, flattering but filled with personal reminiscence, written ca 1470-77. Campanus was famous for his Latin orations, poems and letters. In addition to Bessarion's Academy, Campanus was a member of the Roman circle of Pomponius Leto
Julius Pomponius Laetus
Julius Pomponius Laetus , also known as Giulio Pomponio Leto, was an Italian humanist.-Background:Laetus was born at Teggiano, near Salerno, the illegitimate scion of the princely house of Sanseverino, the German historian Ludwig von Pastor reported...
. After the death of the Pope in 1464, Campani taught at the Florentine Academy.
Campanus was known for his Latin poetry. The famous four epigram
Epigram
An epigram is a brief, interesting, usually memorable and sometimes surprising statement. Derived from the epigramma "inscription" from ἐπιγράφειν epigraphein "to write on inscribe", this literary device has been employed for over two millennia....
matic lines on a sleeping nymph
Nymph
A nymph in Greek mythology is a female minor nature deity typically associated with a particular location or landform. Different from gods, nymphs are generally regarded as divine spirits who animate nature, and are usually depicted as beautiful, young nubile maidens who love to dance and sing;...
Huius nympha loci..., thought to be of Roman origin until revealed as a product of Renaissance humanism
Renaissance humanism
Renaissance humanism was an activity of cultural and educational reform engaged by scholars, writers, and civic leaders who are today known as Renaissance humanists. It developed during the fourteenth and the beginning of the fifteenth centuries, and was a response to the challenge of Mediæval...
by Theodore Mommsen, were identified as Campani's from a note in a manuscript in the Bibliotheca Ricciardiana, Florence.
He wrote a vita in Latin of the condottiero Braccio Fortebracci da Montone
Braccio da Montone
frame|Braccio da Montone.Braccio da Montone , born Andrea Fortebracci, and also known as Braccio Fortebraccio, was an Italian condottiero.-Biography:...
.
Giovanni Battista Campani was born at Cavelli, near Galluccio, in the province of Caserta
Caserta
Caserta is the capital of the province of Caserta in the Campania region of Italy. It is an important agricultural, commercial and industrial comune and city. Caserta is located on the edge of the Campanian plain at the foot of the Campanian Subapennine mountain range...
, to a family of very modest condition, in the midst of the war between Angevin and Aragonese contenders for the Kingdom of Naples
Kingdom of Naples
The Kingdom of Naples, comprising the southern part of the Italian peninsula, was the remainder of the old Kingdom of Sicily after secession of the island of Sicily as a result of the Sicilian Vespers rebellion of 1282. Known to contemporaries as the Kingdom of Sicily, it is dubbed Kingdom of...
. A place as tutor to the sons of the noble Carlo Pandoni, where he spent six years, brought him to the notice of Michel Ferno. In 1452 he went to Perugia
Perugia
Perugia is the capital city of the region of Umbria in central Italy, near the River Tiber, and the capital of the province of Perugia. The city is located about north of Rome. It covers a high hilltop and part of the valleys around the area....
, under the patronage of the Baglioni
Baglioni
Baglioni is an Italian surname and may refer to:*Claudio Baglioni Italian musician*Piero Baglioni , Italian chemist and University professor at the University of Florence...
, and, to his Latin added Greek, under the guidance of Demetrius Chalcondyles
Demetrius Chalcondyles
Demetrios Chalkokondyles, latinized as Demetrius Chalcocondyles and found variously as Demetricocondyles, Chalcocondylas or Chalcondyles , was a Greek humanist, scholar and Professor who taught the Greek language in Italy for over forty years; at Padua, Perugia, Milan and Florence...
. Having been part of the loyal embassy sent on the city's behalf to Pope Callixtus III
Pope Callixtus III
Pope Callixtus III , né Alfons de Borja, was Pope from April 8, 1455 to his death in 1458.-Biography:...
in 1455, on his return was called to the chair of rhetoric 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....
, 16 November 1455. At the elevation of Aeneas Silvius Piccolomini to the papacy as Pope Pius II
Pope Pius II
Pope Pius II, born Enea Silvio Piccolomini was Pope from August 19, 1458 until his death in 1464. Pius II was born at Corsignano in the Sienese territory of a noble but decayed family...
in August 1458, Campani was again among the delegation from Perugia. It was Giacomo Cardinal Ammannati, apostolic secretary, who introduced him to the learned humanist
Renaissance humanism
Renaissance humanism was an activity of cultural and educational reform engaged by scholars, writers, and civic leaders who are today known as Renaissance humanists. It developed during the fourteenth and the beginning of the fifteenth centuries, and was a response to the challenge of Mediæval...
Pius II, who named him bishop of Crotone in Calabria, 20 October 1462, the first of a series of episcopal appointments that found Campani at last Bishop of Teramo (23 May 1463). In Rome Campani was attached as secretary to the household of Alessandro Cardinal Oliva.
After Oliva's death in 1463, Campani joined the familia of Pius' nephew Francesco Todeschini Piccolomini
Pope Pius III
Pope Pius III , born Francesco Todeschini Piccolomini, was Pope from September 22 to October 18, 1503.-Career:...
(later briefly pope as Pius III), whom he accompanied to Germany in 1471. Following the death of Pius, his relations with Paul II
Pope Paul II
Pope Paul II , born Pietro Barbo, was pope from 1464 until his death in 1471.- Early life :He was born in Venice, and was a nephew of Pope Eugene IV , through his mother. His adoption of the spiritual career, after having been trained as a merchant, was prompted by his uncle's election as pope...
deteriorated, but he was protected from the persecution of the humanists in 1468. Under Sixtus IV
Pope Sixtus IV
Pope Sixtus IV , born Francesco della Rovere, was Pope from 1471 to 1484. His accomplishments as Pope included the establishment of the Sistine Chapel; the group of artists that he brought together introduced the Early Renaissance into Rome with the first masterpiece of the city's new artistic age,...
he was appointed governor of Todi
Todi
Todi is a town and comune of the province of Perugia in central Italy. It is perched on a tall two-crested hill overlooking the east bank of the river Tiber, commanding distant views in every direction.In the 1990s, Richard S...
(1472) and Città di Castello
Città di Castello
Città di Castello is a city and comune in the province of Perugia, in the northern part of the Umbria region of Italy. It is situated on a slope of the Apennines, on the flood plain of the river Tiber. The city is north of Perugia and south of Cesena on the S3bis. It is connected to the A1...
(1474), but his public comparison of papal military activities with the Turks
Ottoman Turks
The Ottoman Turks were the Turkish-speaking population of the Ottoman Empire who formed the base of the state's military and ruling classes. Reliable information about the early history of Ottoman Turks is scarce, but they take their Turkish name, Osmanlı , from the house of Osman I The Ottoman...
resulted in his permanent disgrace. He died in Siena
Siena
Siena is a city in Tuscany, Italy. It is the capital of the province of Siena.The historic centre of Siena has been declared by UNESCO a World Heritage Site. It is one of the nation's most visited tourist attractions, with over 163,000 international arrivals in 2008...
and is buried in the Duomo.
An Opera Campani Omnia edited by Michele Ferno, published at Rome, contains an introductory vita
Biography
A biography is a detailed description or account of someone's life. More than a list of basic facts , biography also portrays the subject's experience of those events...
(2nd edition, Venice, 1495).
Further reading
- di Bernardo, F. Un vescovo umanista alla corte ponteficia: Giannantonio Campani (1429-1477) (Rome) 1975.
- Cosenza, M.E., ed. Biographical and Bibliographical Dictionary of the Italian Humanists and of the World of Classical Scholarship rev. 2nd. ed. (Boston) 1962-67.
- (Hausmann, Frank-Rutger) "Giovanni Battista Campani" in Dizionario biografico degli italiani (Rome, 1974