Exchanging Poetry with Theology: Ludovico Castelvetro between Humanism and Heresy

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceedingChapter

Abstract

Traditionally known as either a dangerous heretic or a tedious grammar scholar, the full range of the personality and activities of Ludovico Castelvetro (1505–1571) has not been acknowledged. A long-established separation between academic subjects such as history and literature has led to a selective appreciation of either his religious engagement or his literary oeuvre. This chapter aims at merging the two different fields in order to demonstrate that Castelvetro’s last heresy summon and trial (1555–1560) partly came as a consequence of his polemic with Annibal Caro about the latter’s canzone “Venite a l’ombra de’ gran gigli d’oro” (1553). Being both theologically and literary “heretical,” Castelvetro will be seen to be opposed to the cultural hegemony of his time, while at the same time being in favor of preserving humanistic practices.
Original languageEnglish
Title of host publicationBeyond Catholicism
Subtitle of host publicationHeresy, Mysticism, and Apocalypse in Italian Culture
EditorsFabrizio De Donno, Simon Gilson
PublisherPalgrave Macmillan
Chapter5
Pages77-103
Number of pages27
ISBN (Electronic)978-1-137-34203-4
ISBN (Print)978-1-349-46526-2
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 2014

Publication series

NameStudies in Cultural and Intellectual History
PublisherPalgrave

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