Vox Populi: Vernacular Politics in Early Modern Italy”, Advised by Walter Stephens and Eugenio Refini
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VOX POPULI: VERNACULAR POLITICS IN EARLY MODERN ITALY by Catherine Alison Freddo A dissertation submitted to Johns Hopkins University in conformity with the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy Baltimore, Maryland December 2020 © 2020 Catherine Freddo All Rights Reserved Abstract This dissertation examines the rise of vernacular literary culture in Italy from the late thirteenth century to the early sixteenth century in light of concurrent political developments and reactions on the Italian peninsula. While the humanist shift from classical Latin to the use of the vernacular is often examined as a literary phenomenon, the timeline and trajectory of vernacular production evidence profound, if subtle, influences from the civic mentality of the intellectual community, particularly in Florence. This study is predominantly a work of cultural history which, in an effort to correct an oversight in the dominant historiography of civic humanism, considers the seminal function of the humanists' engagement with the vernacular. The time period studied extends from the comuni of the thirteenth and fourteenth centuries to the loss of political autonomy on the peninsula following the Italian Wars in the early fifteenth century. In broadening the conventional material and chronological parameters of the “Renaissance” and, more specifically, the questione della lingua, I construct a nuanced narrative of the innovations in civic and vernacular humanist thought which led to the ascent and formal codification of the Italian literary language in the early sixteenth century. Each chapter pairs the political lives and selected works of two prominent civic scholars from subsequent periods of Italian humanism, from Dante to Pietro Bembo; considered together, they illustrate and contextualize the critical evolutions in linguistic, political and historical thought which led to the emergence of the vernacular literary ii tradition as a necessary element of cultural stability, and therefore a political safeguard – first for Florence and then for the Italian peninsula at large. In exploring the intersections of linguistic issues and the politically oriented world of Italian humanism, this dissertation reassesses the place of civic thought in narratives of the vernacular literary tradition in early modern Italy. Primary Reader: Professor Eugenio Refini Secondary Reader and Advisor: Professor Walter Stephens iii Acknowledgements There are a number of wonderful people whom I would like to thank for their support over the many years leading to this dissertation: I would never have made it to JHU at all without the guidance of several extraordinary educators, namely Maria Procopio, Emilio Mazzola, Giovanna Bellesia, Monica Ginanneschi, Alfonso Procaccini and Raffaella Santucci. At Johns Hopkins, I would first like to recognize Professor Pier Massimo Forni who, before he left us, welcomed me so graciously into the department. Additionally, my deepest gratitude goes to Professor Chris Celenza, for drawing me into the world of “the lost Quattrocento” and continuing to offer his guidance even from the Dean's office at Georgetown; to Professor Laura Di Bianco who, despite our separate fields, was always available with resources and support; and to my advisers, Professor Eugenio Refini, who helped me to shape this dissertation and provided his expert perspectives along the way, and to Professor Walter Stephens who, with wisdom and good humor, stuck with me until the very end. For their invaluable advice and encouragement, I would like to thank three wonderful scholars and friends, Troy Tower, Jessica Marchi Amira and Kelly McBride, as well as all of my graduate colleagues at JHU. Finally, I thank my parents, Thomas and Janice Freddo, for always making me feel that this was within my reach, as well as my beloved (and patient) husband, Joseph Skowronek – “I hold myself supremely blest…" iv In loving memory of my contemplative counterpart: Matthew Thomas Freddo Brother, engineer, illustrator, adventurer. Also, he was weirdly good at puzzles. v “Leggimi…e quanto fai, amami.” – Leon Battista Alberti vi Proem Settle in, for I concede you’re in for quite a hefty read of popes and princes, friends and foes in highest highs and tragic lows. As rivals plotted bitterly for power over Italy, stability across the land became the matter first at hand. For leaders, but for scholars, too, the chic (and prudent) thing to do was scour manuscripts of old for wisdom ancient Rome foretold. To stifle Lady Fortune’s whims they read their books, they sang their hymns, and tried to heal society with virtuous propriety, and working for the common good they cleaned up Latin, best they could, dispelled scholastic mystery, and reassessed their history, to bring the classics back to life and soothe the local civic strife. Years of careful imitation then gave way to innovation; Cicero was not enough, they had to write their own great stuff. A native, cultural tradition vii became the humanist ambition, a language which expressed themselves, and not the ancients on their shelves. And while they all deserved acclaim the Italians, too, desired fame. In the end, their best defense was wisdom, reason, temperance, and a language built to last, to immortalize their storied past. So find your glasses, make some tea, I’ll show you, if you’ll follow me – the vernacular epiphany of Quattrocento Italy. viii Table of Contents Abstract ................................................................................................................................ ii Acknowledgements .............................................................................................................. iv Proem ................................................................................................................................. vii Introduction .......................................................................................................................... 1 Chapter One – The Trecento: Dante Alighieri and Coluccio Salutati ....................................... 27 II. Dante Alighieri ......................................................................................................................... 31 i. Dante the Prior ................................................................................................................................................ 33 ii. Written works ................................................................................................................................................. 38 III. Coluccio Salutati ...................................................................................................................... 61 i. Salutati the Chancellor .................................................................................................................................... 64 ii. Written works ................................................................................................................................................. 73 IV. Conclusion .............................................................................................................................. 87 Chapter Two – The early Quattrocento: Flavio Biondo and Leon Battista Alberti ................... 89 II. Flavio Biondo ........................................................................................................................... 92 i. Biondo the Secretary ....................................................................................................................................... 95 ii. Written works ............................................................................................................................................... 101 III. Leon Battista Alberti.............................................................................................................. 118 i. Alberti the Secretary ..................................................................................................................................... 121 ii. Written works ............................................................................................................................................... 124 IV. Conclusion ............................................................................................................................ 140 Chapter Three – The late Quattrocento: Lorenzo de’ Medici and Angelo Poliziano .............. 142 II. Lorenzo de’ Medici ................................................................................................................. 146 i. Lorenzo, Lord* of Florence ............................................................................................................................ 150 ii. Written works ............................................................................................................................................... 157 III. Angelo Poliziano ................................................................................................................... 175 i. Poliziano the Secretary .................................................................................................................................. 178 ii. Written works ............................................................................................................................................... 183 IV. Conclusion ............................................................................................................................ 205 Chapter Four –