Aegidius Antonini of Viterbo

Matteo Soranzo (McGill University)

Ed. by Jo Ann Cavallo, Columbia University
The Literary Encyclopedia. Volume 1.6.1: Italian Writing and Culture, 453-present.
Vol. editors: Carla Bregman (Independent Scholar - North America), Jo Ann Cavallo (Columbia University)

Dates

Born 1469
Died 11 Nov 1532
Activity 1488-1532

Places

Born in Italy
Active in Italy

Activities

Primary

Clergyman
Humanist
Rhetorician/ Orator
Theologian

Other

Poet

Resources

Antonini's Works

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The life and career of Aegidius Antonini of Viterbo (1469-1532) – Augustinian hermit and cardinal of the Catholic Church – challenge Renaissance historiography. His expertise in Greek and Latin poetry, his lifelong interest in Plato’s dialogues and Marsilio Ficino, along with his innovative reinterpretation of Hebrew mysticism may indeed fit the category of Renaissance hermetism, a cultural trend that, according to Frances Yates, paved the way for the advent of modern science. His commitment to a renovation of the Church to be attained with a return to Scriptures and an internal reformation of Catholic institutions, moreover, may be matched with other Christian humanists living in pre-Reformation Europe. At closer inspection, however, Aegidius’s numerous, albeit mostly…

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1790 words

Citation: Soranzo, Matteo. "Aegidius Antonini of Viterbo". The Literary Encyclopedia. First published 09 March 2012 [https://www.litencyc.com/php/speople.php?rec=true&UID=12861, accessed 26 November 2024.]