Despite the high regard in which Francesco Petrarca (1304-74) held St. Augustine, scholars have been inclined to view Augustine's impact on the content of Petrarch's thought rather lightly. Wedded to the ancient classics, and prioritising literary imitation over intellectual coherence, Petrarch is commonly thought to have made inconsistent use of St. Augustine's works. Adopting an entirely fresh approach, however, this book argues that Augustine's early writings consistently provided Petrarch with the conceptual foundations of his approach to moral questions, and with a model for integrating...
Despite the high regard in which Francesco Petrarca (1304-74) held St. Augustine, scholars have been inclined to view Augustine's impact on the conten...
Today, we like to think of the Renaissance as a time of cultural rebirth and artistic beauty. But in succumbing to the temptation to revel in the artistic triumphs of the Renaissance and celebrate it uncritically as an age of splendour, we are inclined to overlook the contradictions which underpinned the revival of the arts.
Today, we like to think of the Renaissance as a time of cultural rebirth and artistic beauty. But in succumbing to the temptation to revel in the arti...
