Francesco Petrarca (1304-1374).
After portrait by A. del Castagno.
Francesco Petrarca: Italian scholar, poet and humanist whose poems addressed to Laura, an idealised beloved, contributed to the renaissance flowering of lyric poetry. He was regarded as the greatest scholar of his age.
Petrarch’s political views were more realistic than Dante’s and his poetic technique more elaborate though less powerful. Petrarch’s influence on literature was enormous and lasting. He rejected mediaeval Scholasticism and took as his model the classical Latin authors and the Church fathers.
The literary phenomenon known as Petrarcism developed rapidly within the poet’s lifetime and continued to grow during the following three centuries, deeply influencing the literatures of Italy, Spain, France and England. The theme in his literature is an appeal to the Italian people to recover their forefathers’ courage and the heroic action. He had longing to the noble past.
Michel 382, Sassone 312, AFA 328
Date of issue: 1932
Face value: 2.75 l.
Date created: 22/03/00 11:41:48