Tito Vespasiano Strozzi
Encyclopedia
Tito Vespasiano Strozzi was a Renaissance poet at the Este
court of Ferrara
, who figures as an interlocutor in Angelo Decembrio
's De politia litteraria ("On literary polish").
A member of the Strozzi
family exiled from Florence
, son of Giovanni, who served in Ferrara as Niccolò III d'Este
's commander, Tito was a patrician of Ferrara, where he was educated in humanistic culture
. He was a courtier of successive dukes of Ferrara, Leonello
, Borso
, and Ercole d'Este, and was entrusted with several important posts in the civil magistrature. He was the official champion of the Duke of Ferrara (1473), served as Governor of Rovigo
and the Polesine
(1473-84) then Giudice dei Savi (1497-1505), in which post he was succeeded by his son Ercole Strozzi
. Strozzi was included in the entourage that accompanied Borso to Rome, March 1471, to be elevated from marchese to duca di Ferrara by Pope Sixtus IV Della Rovere
.
His portrait in profile, bearing the signature of Baldassare d'Este (natural son of Niccolò III d'Este) and the date 1499, was in the collection of Vittorio Cini.
s in Italian. He is said to have spent a lifetime polishing the amorous verses written in the first flush of his youth. His literary style was formed at Verona
under the guidance of Guarino
.
Among his works are the six books of the Eroticon, a series of elegies
in refined Latin verse fusing Latin classical training with the spirit of Petrarch
. A fine illuminated manuscript
of them, with gold initials and illuminated margins, was purchased by the humanist Celio Calcagnini
from the extensive former library of the Aragonese kings of Naples, dispersed by Isabella del Balzo
, the deposed queen.
His heroic Borsiade celebrating his patron Borso d'Este is lost, save a few fragments. There are also epigram
s, and sermon
s. His collected opere were published by Aldus Manutius
in 1513, together with works of his son, under the title Strozii poëtae pater et filius.
Este
The House of Este is a European princely dynasty. It is split into two branches; the elder is known as the House of Welf-Este or House of Welf historically rendered in English, Guelf or Guelph...
court of Ferrara
Ferrara
Ferrara is a city and comune in Emilia-Romagna, northern Italy, capital city of the Province of Ferrara. It is situated 50 km north-northeast of Bologna, on the Po di Volano, a branch channel of the main stream of the Po River, located 5 km north...
, who figures as an interlocutor in Angelo Decembrio
Angelo Decembrio
Angelo Decembrio was a Milanese humanist who began his career in Ferrara, where he arrived in 1430. The son of Uberto Decembrio, who was the first Renaissance translator of Plato's Republic, and outshone among his contemporaries by his brother Pier Candido, Angelo is known especially for the seven...
's De politia litteraria ("On literary polish").
A member of the Strozzi
Strozzi
Strozzi is the name of an ancient and noble Florentine family. Palla Strozzi played an important part in the public life of Florence, and founded the first public library in Florence in the monastery of Santa Trinita...
family exiled from Florence
Florence
Florence is the capital city of the Italian region of Tuscany and of the province of Florence. It is the most populous city in Tuscany, with approximately 370,000 inhabitants, expanding to over 1.5 million in the metropolitan area....
, son of Giovanni, who served in Ferrara as Niccolò III d'Este
Niccolò III d'Este
Niccolò III d'Este was Marquess of Ferrara from 1393 until his death. He was also a condottiero.-Biography:...
's commander, Tito was a patrician of Ferrara, where he was educated in humanistic culture
Renaissance humanism
Renaissance humanism was an activity of cultural and educational reform engaged by scholars, writers, and civic leaders who are today known as Renaissance humanists. It developed during the fourteenth and the beginning of the fifteenth centuries, and was a response to the challenge of Mediæval...
. He was a courtier of successive dukes of Ferrara, Leonello
Leonello d'Este
thumb|220px|Leonello D'Este portrayed by Pisanello.Leonello d'Este was marquis of Ferrara and Duke of Modena and Reggio Emilia from 1441 to 1450.-Biography:...
, Borso
Borso d'Este
thumb|Borso d'Este, attributed to [[Vicino da Ferrara]], [[Pinacoteca]] of the [[Castello Sforzesco|Sforza Castle]] in [[Milan]], [[Italy]].Borso d'Este was the first Duke of Ferrara, which he ruled from 1450 until his death...
, and Ercole d'Este, and was entrusted with several important posts in the civil magistrature. He was the official champion of the Duke of Ferrara (1473), served as Governor of Rovigo
Rovigo
Rovigo is a town and comune in the Veneto region of North-Eastern Italy, the capital of the eponymous province. -Geography:...
and the Polesine
Polesine
Polesine is a geographic and historic area in the north-east of Italy corresponding nowadays with the province of Rovigo; it is a strip of land about 100-km long and 18-km wide located between the lower courses of the Adige and the Po rivers.- Geography :...
(1473-84) then Giudice dei Savi (1497-1505), in which post he was succeeded by his son Ercole Strozzi
Ercole Strozzi
Ercole Strozzi was an Italian poet, the son of Tito Vespasiano Strozzi. He was a friend of Lucrezia Borgia, and was murdered in Ferrara....
. Strozzi was included in the entourage that accompanied Borso to Rome, March 1471, to be elevated from marchese to duca di Ferrara by Pope Sixtus IV Della Rovere
Pope Sixtus IV
Pope Sixtus IV , born Francesco della Rovere, was Pope from 1471 to 1484. His accomplishments as Pope included the establishment of the Sistine Chapel; the group of artists that he brought together introduced the Early Renaissance into Rome with the first masterpiece of the city's new artistic age,...
.
His portrait in profile, bearing the signature of Baldassare d'Este (natural son of Niccolò III d'Este) and the date 1499, was in the collection of Vittorio Cini.
Works
He is more remembered for his humanistic compositions in Latin and some sonnetSonnet
A sonnet is one of several forms of poetry that originate in Europe, mainly Provence and Italy. A sonnet commonly has 14 lines. The term "sonnet" derives from the Occitan word sonet and the Italian word sonetto, both meaning "little song" or "little sound"...
s in Italian. He is said to have spent a lifetime polishing the amorous verses written in the first flush of his youth. His literary style was formed at Verona
Verona
Verona ; German Bern, Dietrichsbern or Welschbern) is a city in the Veneto, northern Italy, with approx. 265,000 inhabitants and one of the seven chef-lieus of the region. It is the second largest city municipality in the region and the third of North-Eastern Italy. The metropolitan area of Verona...
under the guidance of Guarino
Guarino da Verona
Guarino da Verona was an early figure in the Italian Renaissance.He was born in Verona, Italy and later studied Greek at Constantinople, where for five years he was the pupil of Manuel Chrysoloras. When he set out to return home, he had with him two cases of precious Greek manuscripts which he had...
.
Among his works are the six books of the Eroticon, a series of elegies
Elegy
In literature, an elegy is a mournful, melancholic or plaintive poem, especially a funeral song or a lament for the dead.-History:The Greek term elegeia originally referred to any verse written in elegiac couplets and covering a wide range of subject matter, including epitaphs for tombs...
in refined Latin verse fusing Latin classical training with the spirit of Petrarch
Petrarch
Francesco Petrarca , known in English as Petrarch, was an Italian scholar, poet and one of the earliest humanists. Petrarch is often called the "Father of Humanism"...
. A fine illuminated manuscript
Illuminated manuscript
An illuminated manuscript is a manuscript in which the text is supplemented by the addition of decoration, such as decorated initials, borders and miniature illustrations...
of them, with gold initials and illuminated margins, was purchased by the humanist Celio Calcagnini
Celio Calcagnini
Celio Calcagnini , also known as Caelius Calcagninus, was an Italian humanist and scientist from Ferrara. His learning as displayed in his collected works is very broad....
from the extensive former library of the Aragonese kings of Naples, dispersed by Isabella del Balzo
Isabella del Balzo
Isabella of Balzo was the second consort and only Queen consort of Frederick IV of Naples.-Family:She was a daughter of Pietro del Balzo, Duke of Andria and Maria Donata Orsini...
, the deposed queen.
His heroic Borsiade celebrating his patron Borso d'Este is lost, save a few fragments. There are also epigram
Epigram
An epigram is a brief, interesting, usually memorable and sometimes surprising statement. Derived from the epigramma "inscription" from ἐπιγράφειν epigraphein "to write on inscribe", this literary device has been employed for over two millennia....
s, and sermon
Sermon
A sermon is an oration by a prophet or member of the clergy. Sermons address a Biblical, theological, religious, or moral topic, usually expounding on a type of belief, law or behavior within both past and present contexts...
s. His collected opere were published by Aldus Manutius
Aldus Manutius
Aldus Pius Manutius , the Latinised name of Aldo Manuzio —sometimes called Aldus Manutius, the Elder to distinguish him from his grandson, Aldus Manutius, the Younger—was an Italian humanist who became a printer and publisher when he founded the Aldine Press at Venice.His publishing legacy includes...
in 1513, together with works of his son, under the title Strozii poëtae pater et filius.