Sperone Speroni

Sperone Speroni, latin Speronus Speronius (* 1500 in Padua, † 1588 ) was an Italian humanist and writer.

Life

After studying philosophy and medicine Speroni taught from 1520-1523 logic at Padua University, but interrupted this activity to take lessons with Pietro in Bologna Pomponazzi. After his death ( 1525) he returned to his hometown, where he worked for three years as a professor of philosophy. A post he had when his father died in 1528, to give up in order to devote the domestic affairs can. From 1534-1548 he lived in Venice. As ambassadors of Guidobaldo II della Rovere, Duke of Urbino, to Pope Pius IV Speroni then stayed from 1560-1564 in Rome. There he gained the respect of some scholars, including the Cardinal Charles Borromeo, often attended the meetings of the Accademia delle Notti Vaticane and was appointed on his departure in 1564 of Pius IV knighted. Following a renewed stay in Rome (1573-1578) he returned home to Padua, where he lived until his death ( 1588).

Speroni, who was a member of the Accademia degli Infiammati in Padua, wrote poetry, critical studies of Virgil, Dante and Ariosto, and numerous dialogues on moral and literary themes. The most important of these dialogues was " Delle lingue " ( 1542), a defense of the vernacular and plea for the equality of the Italian language as a poet in addition to Latin. In this work he followed the ideas Pietro Bembo and influenced later Joachim du Bellay's " Défense et illustration de la langue française " ( 1549). His tragedy " Canace " ( 1546) followed the dramas of Seneca and is based on the legend of Kanaka, a figure of Greek mythology.

Works (selection)

• Commentary on Aristotle's Rhetoric
• Dialoghi, Venice 1542
• Canace, tragedy, 1546
• Dialogue de la dignité des femmes, Lyon 1546
• Orazioni della Prudenza dei Principi ( Talking about the wisdom of the princes ), Venice 1598