Federico Montefeltro of Urbino (The Light of Italy)

Tuesday January 21, 2014 11:00 am

Wyndemere Country Club Speaker: Dr. Mary Watt

Chair: Ken Pedini Director Italian Studies Price: $36 University of Florida

Federico da Montefeltro (1422—1482) Lord of Urbino, was a landmark figure in the history of the Italian Renaissance. He was recognized not only as the most successful condottiero or mercenary general of his time, but also for his huge contributions to enlightened culture. During his career, he hired out to, and/or fought against all the great powers of Italy. He expanded his tiny hill top duchy of Urbino at one time or another to include the coastal towns of Fano, Senigallia, and Rimini to encompass much of the northern Marche and coastal Romangna. His fortune made, he turned to the arts as enthusiastically as he had to war and settled down to create one of the most brilliant courts of his time. Almost all the great names of the Quattrocento passed through his magnificent palace. He created one of the largest libraries in all of Europe. Castiglione wrote his “Book of the Courtier” the classic account of the Renaissance ideal and handbook of subsequent courtiers as a member of the court of Urbino.

Speaker Bio

Dr. Watt holds a Ph.D. from the University of Toronto, Department of Italian Studies. She came to the University of Florida in 2000 where she established a program in Italian Studies, and co-founded the Center for Medieval and Early Modern Studies. Dr. Watt is the author of “The Cross that Dante bears”, published in 2005, as well as articles on Dante and other medieval topics. She was appointed Chair of the Department of Languages, Litera- tures and Cultures in the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences in 2010