Luigi Da Porto
Encyclopedia
Luigi Da Porto was an Italian
writer and storiographer, better known as the author of the novel with the story of Romeo and Juliet
, later reprised by William Shakespeare
for his famous drama
.
Da Porto wrote the novel in his villa in Montorso Vicentino
near Vicenza. The title of the book was Historia novellamente ritrovata di due nobili amanti ("Newly found story of two noble lovers"), published about 1530. The origin of the story of the two unlucky lovers is disputed, however Da Porto probably took the inspiration from a tale by Masuccio Salernitano
called Mariotto e Ganozza, introducing many modern elements reprised by Shakespeare's drama.
Some inspiration may have stemmed from da Porto's own experiences: Im 1511, he apparently fell in love with the sixteen year old Lucina Sarvognan who enchanted a Venetian ball with her singing. The conflicts between and within Friulian clans were however at a critical point.Da Porto was very close to his uncle Antonio Savorgnan, unfortunately though, when he met Lucina, Antonio's relationship with her guardian Girolamo Savorgnan was at a nadir. Years later, badly wounded and paralyzed from his battles, Luigi wrote the novella in his villa, setting it in Verona, whose towers he could see from his window. He dedicated the work to Lucina, who by then had been married off to someone else.
Da Porto set the story in Verona
(at that time, a strategic city for Venice
), in the age of Bartolomeo della Scala (1301–1304). He created the names of Romeus (later Romeo) and Giulietta (soon to be Juliet in England) and even created the characters of Mercutio, Tybalt, Friar Laurence and Paris.
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...
writer and storiographer, better known as the author of the novel with the story of Romeo and Juliet
Romeo and Juliet
Romeo and Juliet is a tragedy written early in the career of playwright William Shakespeare about two young star-crossed lovers whose deaths ultimately unite their feuding families. It was among Shakespeare's most popular archetypal stories of young, teenage lovers.Romeo and Juliet belongs to a...
, later reprised by William Shakespeare
William Shakespeare
William Shakespeare was an English poet and playwright, widely regarded as the greatest writer in the English language and the world's pre-eminent dramatist. He is often called England's national poet and the "Bard of Avon"...
for his famous drama
Drama
Drama is the specific mode of fiction represented in performance. The term comes from a Greek word meaning "action" , which is derived from "to do","to act" . The enactment of drama in theatre, performed by actors on a stage before an audience, presupposes collaborative modes of production and a...
.
Montorso Vicentino
Montorso Vicentino is a town and comune in the province of Vicenza, Veneto, Italy. It is south of SP31.-Sources:*...
near Vicenza. The title of the book was Historia novellamente ritrovata di due nobili amanti ("Newly found story of two noble lovers"), published about 1530. The origin of the story of the two unlucky lovers is disputed, however Da Porto probably took the inspiration from a tale by Masuccio Salernitano
Masuccio Salernitano
Masuccio Salernitano , born Tommaso Guardati, was an Italian poet.Born in Salerno or Sorrento, he is best known today for Il Novellino, a collection of 50 "novelle" or short stories, each prefaced by a letter of dedication to a famous person and with an epilogue containing the "moral" of the...
called Mariotto e Ganozza, introducing many modern elements reprised by Shakespeare's drama.
Some inspiration may have stemmed from da Porto's own experiences: Im 1511, he apparently fell in love with the sixteen year old Lucina Sarvognan who enchanted a Venetian ball with her singing. The conflicts between and within Friulian clans were however at a critical point.Da Porto was very close to his uncle Antonio Savorgnan, unfortunately though, when he met Lucina, Antonio's relationship with her guardian Girolamo Savorgnan was at a nadir. Years later, badly wounded and paralyzed from his battles, Luigi wrote the novella in his villa, setting it in Verona, whose towers he could see from his window. He dedicated the work to Lucina, who by then had been married off to someone else.
Da Porto set the story in Verona
Verona
Verona ; German Bern, Dietrichsbern or Welschbern) is a city in the Veneto, northern Italy, with approx. 265,000 inhabitants and one of the seven chef-lieus of the region. It is the second largest city municipality in the region and the third of North-Eastern Italy. The metropolitan area of Verona...
(at that time, a strategic city for Venice
Venice
Venice is a city in northern Italy which is renowned for the beauty of its setting, its architecture and its artworks. It is the capital of the Veneto region...
), in the age of Bartolomeo della Scala (1301–1304). He created the names of Romeus (later Romeo) and Giulietta (soon to be Juliet in England) and even created the characters of Mercutio, Tybalt, Friar Laurence and Paris.