Artists and Writers

Dante Alighieri (1265-1321)

Born in Florence to a family of some aristocratic prominence, Dante’s early studies of poetry, literature, and Christianity, were guided by his family’s alliance with the Guelps – those in support of papal rule over that of an emperor. His subsequent study of philosophy and his political leanings formed the background for his classical works.

 Dante’s mother died when he was a child, and at 12, his wedding had been arranged; but three years earlier he had met Beatrice, and she would become the subject of many of his poems. Dante was married when Beatrice died at the age of 20, and in Vita nuova (New life), completed in 1294, Dante writes of his love for Beatrice.

 When the Guelps split in 1302, Dante was banished from Florence. During his exile he traveled throughout Italy, and wrote in Latin and Italian many poems among them De monarchia, Il Convivio, De vulgari eloquentia, and Commedia, better known as The Divine Comedy, detailing the journey through Inferno and Purgatorio to reach Paradiso.

 LINKS:

Dante Alighieri on the Web

Renaissance Dante in Print

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Written by Janice Mancuso

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