Giovanni Sulpizio da Veroli
Encyclopedia
The Italian Renaissance humanist and rhetorician Fra Giovanni Sulpizio da Veroli or Johannes Sulpitius Verulanus or Verolensis (flourishing ca 1470 — 1490) whose work was known to Erasmus, was the author of a work on epistolary art, the proper composition and ornamentation of letters, De componendis et ornandis epistoli (ca 1475). He originated from the small commune of Veroli
in Lazio, south of Rome.
Occupying the chair of grammar at the University of Rome
, the Studium urbis, he joined with his master Pomponio Leto
in studying the remains of Roman antiquity that lay in ruins all about them, and made impassioned pleas for the purification of Latin
. In 1486 Sulpizio prepared the first printed edition of Vitruvius
' De Architectura
for the press; the work had long circulated in manuscripts, some of them corrupt. The volume, which also includes the text of Frontinus' De aquaeductu
describing the aqueducts of Rome, was dedicated to Cardinal Riario
, an enthusiastic supporter of the ideals of the Pomponian sodalitas; the dedicatory epistle urges Riario to complete the recovery of classical Roman buildings with a theatre. In his preface Sulpizio urges readers to send him emendations of the notoriously crabbed and difficult text. With Vitruvius' text in hand, Sulpizio directed the erection of a reproduction open-air Roman theater in front of Palazzo Riario in Campo dei Fiori, Rome; there, in 1486 or 1488 his students mounted the first production of a Roman tragedy
that had been seen since Antiquity, in the presence of Pope Innocent VIII
. The play they chose was Seneca
's Phaedra
, which they knew as Hippolytus.
In his concern to purify the Latin that was still being spoken as a lingua franca
in educated circles, he wrote a commentary on Quintilian
. The abruptness of the ending of Lucan
's Pharsalia
prompted him to add eleven verses, which were included in most early printed editions of Lucan's epic poem.
His Latin didactic poem, concerning the proper hygiene and table manners
suited to the young student, and the pursuit of literary virtues, which lead to the other virtues, De moribus puerorum in mensa praecipue servandis, has been edited by M. Martini.
Veroli
-History:Veroli became a Roman municipium in 90 BCE. It became the seat of a bishopric in 743 CE, and was occupied by Spanish milices, allied to the Colonna family, in the 16th troops.-Main sights:...
in Lazio, south of Rome.
Occupying the chair of grammar at the University of Rome
University of Rome La Sapienza
The Sapienza University of Rome, officially Sapienza – Università di Roma, formerly known as Università degli studi di Roma "La Sapienza", is a coeducational, autonomous state university in Rome, Italy...
, the Studium urbis, he joined with his master Pomponio Leto
Julius Pomponius Laetus
Julius Pomponius Laetus , also known as Giulio Pomponio Leto, was an Italian humanist.-Background:Laetus was born at Teggiano, near Salerno, the illegitimate scion of the princely house of Sanseverino, the German historian Ludwig von Pastor reported...
in studying the remains of Roman antiquity that lay in ruins all about them, and made impassioned pleas for the purification of Latin
Latin
Latin is an Italic language originally spoken in Latium and Ancient Rome. It, along with most European languages, is a descendant of the ancient Proto-Indo-European language. Although it is considered a dead language, a number of scholars and members of the Christian clergy speak it fluently, and...
. In 1486 Sulpizio prepared the first printed edition of Vitruvius
Vitruvius
Marcus Vitruvius Pollio was a Roman writer, architect and engineer, active in the 1st century BC. He is best known as the author of the multi-volume work De Architectura ....
' De Architectura
De architectura
' is a treatise on architecture written by the Roman architect Vitruvius and dedicated to his patron, the emperor Caesar Augustus, as a guide for building projects...
for the press; the work had long circulated in manuscripts, some of them corrupt. The volume, which also includes the text of Frontinus' De aquaeductu
De aquaeductu
' is a two-book official report given to the emperor on the state of the aqueducts of Rome, and was written by Julius Sextus Frontinus at the end of the 1st century AD. It is also known as or . It is the earliest official report of an investigation made by a distinguished citizen on Roman...
describing the aqueducts of Rome, was dedicated to Cardinal Riario
Raffaele Riario
Raffaele Sansoni Galeoti Riario was an Italian Cardinal of the Renaissance, mainly known as the constructor of the Palazzo della Cancelleria and the one who invited Michelangelo to Rome. He was a patron of the arts...
, an enthusiastic supporter of the ideals of the Pomponian sodalitas; the dedicatory epistle urges Riario to complete the recovery of classical Roman buildings with a theatre. In his preface Sulpizio urges readers to send him emendations of the notoriously crabbed and difficult text. With Vitruvius' text in hand, Sulpizio directed the erection of a reproduction open-air Roman theater in front of Palazzo Riario in Campo dei Fiori, Rome; there, in 1486 or 1488 his students mounted the first production of a Roman tragedy
Senecan tragedy
Senecan tragedy is a body of ten 1st century dramas, of which eight were written by the Roman Stoic philosopher and politician L. Annaeus Seneca . Rediscovered by Italian humanists in the mid-16th century, they became the models for the revival of tragedy on the Renaissance stage...
that had been seen since Antiquity, in the presence of Pope Innocent VIII
Pope Innocent VIII
Pope Innocent VIII , born Giovanni Battista Cybo , was Pope from 1484 until his death.-Early years:Giovanni Battista Cybo was born at Genoa of Greek extraction...
. The play they chose was Seneca
Seneca the Younger
Lucius Annaeus Seneca was a Roman Stoic philosopher, statesman, dramatist, and in one work humorist, of the Silver Age of Latin literature. He was tutor and later advisor to emperor Nero...
's Phaedra
Phaedra (Seneca)
Phaedra, sometimes known as Hippolytus, is a play by Seneca the Younger, telling the story of Phaedra and her taboo love for her stepson Hippolytus...
, which they knew as Hippolytus.
In his concern to purify the Latin that was still being spoken as a lingua franca
Lingua franca
A lingua franca is a language systematically used to make communication possible between people not sharing a mother tongue, in particular when it is a third language, distinct from both mother tongues.-Characteristics:"Lingua franca" is a functionally defined term, independent of the linguistic...
in educated circles, he wrote a commentary on Quintilian
Quintilian
Marcus Fabius Quintilianus was a Roman rhetorician from Hispania, widely referred to in medieval schools of rhetoric and in Renaissance writing...
. The abruptness of the ending of Lucan
Lucan
Lucan is the common English name of the Roman poet Marcus Annaeus Lucanus.Lucan may also refer to:-People:*Arthur Lucan , English actor*Sir Lucan the Butler, Knight of the Round Table in Arthurian legend...
's Pharsalia
Pharsalia
The Pharsalia is a Roman epic poem by the poet Lucan, telling of the civil war between Julius Caesar and the forces of the Roman Senate led by Pompey the Great...
prompted him to add eleven verses, which were included in most early printed editions of Lucan's epic poem.
His Latin didactic poem, concerning the proper hygiene and table manners
Table manners
Table manners are the rules of etiquette used while eating, which may also include the appropriate use of utensils. Different cultures observe different rules for table manners...
suited to the young student, and the pursuit of literary virtues, which lead to the other virtues, De moribus puerorum in mensa praecipue servandis, has been edited by M. Martini.