Petrarch
Francesco Petrarca (Italian: [franˈtʃesko peˈtrarka]; 20 July 1304 – 19 July 1374), commonly anglicized as Petrarch (/ˈpiːtrɑːrk, ˈpɛt-/), was a scholar and poet of the early Italian Renaissance, and one of the earliest humanists.
Francesco Petrarch | |
|---|---|
Portrait by Altichiero, c. 1370–1380 | |
| Born | Francesco Petracco 20 July 1304 Comune of Arezzo |
| Died | 19 July 1374 (aged 69) Arquà, Padua |
| Resting place | Arquà Petrarca |
| Occupation |
|
| Language |
|
| Nationality | Aretine |
| Education | |
| Period | Early Renaissance |
| Genres | |
| Subjects |
|
| Literary movement | |
| Notable works | |
| Notable awards | Poet laureate of Rome, 1341 |
| Children | Giovanni (1337–1361) Francesca (born in 1343) |
| Parents | Ser Petracco (father) Eletta Canigiani (mother) |
| Relatives | Gherardo Petracco (brother) Giovanni Boccaccio (friend) |
Petrarch's rediscovery of Cicero's letters is often credited with initiating the 14th-century Italian Renaissance and the founding of Renaissance humanism. In the 16th century, Pietro Bembo created the model for the modern Italian language based on Petrarch's works, as well as those of Giovanni Boccaccio, and, to a lesser extent, Dante Alighieri. Petrarch was later endorsed as a model for Italian style by the Accademia della Crusca.
Petrarch's sonnets were admired and imitated throughout Europe during the Renaissance and became a model for lyrical poetry. He is also known for being the first to develop the concept of the "Dark Ages".