Venetian Humanism: description
Document Actions
Prof. Marc-Aeilko Aris, Department of Philology, LMU - Prof. Claudia Wiener, Department of Philology, LMU
The seminar will focus upon the humanist reception of ancient greek and latin literature under the specific cultural conditions of the city of Venice. As recent studies (in particular A. Fremmer: Venezianische Buchkultur, 2001) have shown, Venetians revealed an increasing interest in the possession of books and, thus, a specific culture of reading, in the Fourteenth and Fifteenth centuries.
The humanist reception of antique literature, as it may be seen in the tradition and translation of texts and in the influence of these texts on the evolution of latinity and literary production in Venice, is to be considered in this more sharply defined socio-historical context. This book culture provides also the background, against which the
leading figures of Venetian humanism, who either permanently or temporarily resided in the island city, such as Bernardo Giustiniani, Francesco Barbaro or George of Trapesunt, together with their literary production and their european network of personal connections may be properly understood. This context furnishes, further, an understanding of the material conditions under which the production and marketing of books transmitting antique texts and printers such as Aldus Manutius could flourish. The role-model status of Venetian book culture and humanism and the canonic importance of Venetian printing, particularly the prints of Aldus Manutius, in the diffusion of humanism will be studied as exemplified by the Nuremberg circle of Celtis and Pirckheimer and the associates of Brant and Locher.The study of the role of the specific social and economic background in the humanist reception of antique literature in Venice will help to define the profile of Venetian humanism and to differentiate it from other cultures of humanist reception in Italy and Germany.
The humanist reception of antique literature, as it may be seen in the tradition and translation of texts and in the influence of these texts on the evolution of latinity and literary production in Venice, is to be considered in this more sharply defined socio-historical context. This book culture provides also the background, against which the
leading figures of Venetian humanism, who either permanently or temporarily resided in the island city, such as Bernardo Giustiniani, Francesco Barbaro or George of Trapesunt, together with their literary production and their european network of personal connections may be properly understood. This context furnishes, further, an understanding of the material conditions under which the production and marketing of books transmitting antique texts and printers such as Aldus Manutius could flourish. The role-model status of Venetian book culture and humanism and the canonic importance of Venetian printing, particularly the prints of Aldus Manutius, in the diffusion of humanism will be studied as exemplified by the Nuremberg circle of Celtis and Pirckheimer and the associates of Brant and Locher.The study of the role of the specific social and economic background in the humanist reception of antique literature in Venice will help to define the profile of Venetian humanism and to differentiate it from other cultures of humanist reception in Italy and Germany.
