Giovanni Boccaccio's works. Boccaccio, Giovanni - short biography

Giovanni Boccaccio - Italian poet and writer of the early Renaissance, humanist. Born in 1313, probably in June or July. He was born in Florence and became the fruit of the love of a Florentine merchant and a French woman. Perhaps it is because of his mother that some sources indicate Paris as his place of birth. Giovanni himself called himself Boccaccio da Certaldo - after the name of the area where his family came from.

Around 1330, Boccaccio moved to Naples: despite the boy’s literary talent, which was noticeable from an early age, his father saw him in the future only as a merchant, so he sent him to learn the intricacies of commerce. However, young Boccaccio showed neither ability nor interest in trading. The father eventually lost hope that his son would continue his work, and allowed him to study canon law. But Boccaccio did not become a lawyer; his only passion was poetry, to which he had the opportunity to devote himself only much later, after the death of his father in 1348.

Living in Naples, Boccaccio becomes part of the entourage of King Robert of Anjou. It was during this period that he became a poet and humanist. His friends were scientists, educated people, and influential people. Giovanni read ancient authors avidly, and the environment itself greatly contributed to the expansion of his ideas about the world. It is with Naples that quite a large period of its creative biography. In honor of his muse, whom he called Fiametta in poetry, he wrote large number poems; in addition, the poems “The Hunt of Diana”, “Theseides”, “Philostrato” were created, as well as prose novel, which were of great importance for the formation of new Italian literature.

In 1340, his father, who by that time was completely bankrupt, demanded Boccaccio's return to Florence, although he, as before, was indifferent to commerce. Gradually the humanist began to participate in political and public life cities. In 1341, a friendship appeared in his life, which he carried throughout his life - with Francesco Petrarch. Thanks to this relationship, Boccaccio began to take himself and life more seriously. He enjoyed great influence among the townspeople; he was often given diplomatic assignments on behalf of the Florentine Republic. Boccaccio devoted a lot of energy to educational work, aroused interest in antiquity and science, and personally rewrote ancient manuscripts.

In 1350-1353 Boccaccio wrote the main work of his life, which glorified him throughout the centuries - “The Decameron” - a hundred short stories that were ahead of their time, creating a vivid panorama Italian life, permeated with free-thinking, lively humor, and ideas of humanism. Its success was simply stunning, and in different countries, into whose languages ​​it was immediately translated.

In 1363, Boccaccio left Florence and came to Certaldo, a small estate, where he completely immersed himself in his books and lived contentedly with little. The closer old age loomed, the more superstitious Boccaccio became, the more seriously he took faith and the church, but to say that there was a turning point in his worldview would be a great exaggeration. This is evidenced by his work and the apogee of friendship and unity of views with Petrarch. With the works written during these years dedicated to Dante, literary criticism of a new type began to develop. Public lectures on " Divine Comedy“He read until a serious illness knocked him down. The death of Petrarch made the strongest impression on Boccaccio; he outlived his friend by a little less than a year and a half. December 21, 1375 the heart of the great humanist, one of the most educated people Italy of its time has stopped.

Giovanni Boccaccio(Italian: Giovanni Boccaccio; 1313, Certaldo - December 21, 1375, Certaldo near Florence) - famous Italian writer and poet, representative of the literature of the early Renaissance.
Author of poems based on subjects ancient mythology, the psychological story “Fiammetta” (1343, published in 1472), pastorals, sonnets. The main work is “The Decameron” (1350-1353, published in 1470) - a book of erotic, realistic short stories, imbued with humanistic ideas, the spirit of freethinking and anti-clericalism, rejection of ascetic morality, cheerful humor, a multi-colored panorama of the morals of Italian society. The poem “The Raven” (1354-1355, published in 1487), the book “The Life of Dante Alighieri” (c. 1360, published in 1477).
Illegitimate son of a Florentine merchant and a French woman. His family came from Certaldo, which is why he called himself Boccaccio da Certaldo. Already in infancy, he showed a strong inclination towards poetry, but in his tenth year his father apprenticed him to a merchant, who fussed with him for 6 whole years and was nevertheless forced to send him back to his father due to young Boccaccio’s ineradicable aversion to merchant occupation. However, Boccaccio had to languish over merchant books in Naples for another 8 years until his father finally lost patience and allowed him to study canon law. Only after the death of his father (1348) did Boccaccio have the opportunity to fully devote himself to his penchant for literature. During his stay at the court of the Neapolitan King Robert, he became friends with many scientists of that time and gained the favor of the young Queen Joanna and the young Princess Mary, his inspiration, whom he later described under the name of Fiammetta.
His friendship with Petrarch began back in 1341 in Rome and continued until the latter’s death. He owes it to Petrarch that he parted with his former wild and not entirely chaste life and generally became more demanding of himself. In 1349, Boccaccio finally settled in Florence and was repeatedly elected by his fellow citizens for diplomatic assignments. Thus, in 1350 he was envoy to Astarro di Polento in Ravenna; in 1351 he was sent to Padua to inform Petrarch of the reversal of the sentence of his exile and to persuade him to take a chair at the University of Florence. In December of the same year, he received instructions from Ludwig of Brandenburg, son of Ludwig of Bavaria, to ask for his help against (Visconti). In 1353 he was sent to Innocent VI in Avignon to negotiate the latter's upcoming meeting with Charles IV and later to Urban V. From 1363 he settled on a small estate in Certaldo, living on meager means and completely burying himself in his books. There he contracted a long-term illness, from which he slowly recovered. Through his efforts, the Florentines, who had once expelled their great citizen Dante, established a special department to explain the latter’s poem, and this department was entrusted to Boccaccio in 1373. Petrarch's death upset him so much that he fell ill and died 17 months later, on December 21, 1375.
The monument to Boccaccio, erected in Piazza Solferino in Certaldo, was opened on June 22, 1879. A crater on Mercury is named in honor of Boccaccio.

BOCCACCIO (Boccaccio) Giovanni (1313-1375), Italian writer, humanist Early Renaissance. Poems based on ancient mythology, the psychological story "Fiammetta" (1343, published in 1472), pastorals, sonnets. In the main work "The Decameron" (1350-53, published in 1470) - a book of realistic short stories, imbued with humanistic ideas, the spirit of freethinking and anti-clericalism, rejection of ascetic morality, cheerful humor - a multi-colored panorama of the morals of Italian society. The poem "The Raven" (1354-55, published in 1487), the book "The Life of Dante Alighieri" (c. 1360, published in 1477).

BOCCACCIO (Вocaccio) Giovanni (1313, Paris - December 21, 1375, Certaldo, Tuscany, Italy), Italian poet, writer, expert on classical antiquity.

Born in Paris, but all conscious and creative life was associated with such cultural centers Italian Renaissance like Naples and Florence. Was illegitimate son French women noble birth and a rich Florentine merchant, at whose insistence early age began to study law, banking and commerce in the company of the Bardi, a famous merchant family.

From 1330 he was with his father in Naples, who was a supplier to the court of the Neapolitan king Robert of Anjou. It was this sovereign, the patron of the arts, who noticed the gift of young Boccaccio, who, by his own admission, began to compose poetry as soon as he learned the letters. Boccaccio's creative vocation, his interest in fine arts and classical antiquities were supported and developed in communication with a circle of artists, poets and thinkers close to the court of Robert of Anjou. IN different times at this brilliant court were Giotto, Cino da Pistoia, Barlaam of Calabria; the royal librarian who gave lessons to the young Boccaccio was Paolo Perugino. The love for Maria d'Aquino, the king's natural daughter, who she met in Naples, inspired many works love lyrics Boccaccio.

It was during his stay in Naples at the grave of Virgil that Boccaccio vowed to devote his entire life to the service of the fine arts and poetry. Here, in his young years, he created several popular works: "Diana's Hunt" - poetic essay in terzina (circa 1336), in which noble Neapolitan ladies are represented as heroines ancient myths- companions of the goddess Diana, “Philostrato” (1338) - a poem in octaves on the themes of the Trojan cycle, “Theseid” (1339). All these works are written in folk Italian- the so-called "volgar" and are often alterations of the plots of southern French medieval works.

In 1340, Boccaccio, at the insistence of his father, returned to Florence. With the exception of a short period in 1351, when he was in straitened circumstances after the death of his father, he avoided borrowing permanent positions in the communal hierarchy or in the service of influential persons. At the same time, during his life, Boccaccio willingly carried out honorary diplomatic missions on behalf of the Florentine Republic, and was a member of embassies sent to Romagna (1351), Ravenna and Rome (1367), Naples (1351), Avignon (1354 and 1365), Venice ( 1367 and 1368.). It is obvious that Boccaccio enjoyed respect and authority among his fellow citizens.

During his life in Florence, he created the prose works that made him famous: “Fiametta” (1343), “Decameron” (1348-1353), as well as the poetic cycle “The Fiesolan Nymphs” (1345). Boccaccio's literary masterpiece "The Decameron" became a model of perfection of language and style for Italian authors, a classic of world literature. The Decameron presents one hundred stories told on behalf of noble Florentine ladies and young men; The narrative takes place against the backdrop of a plague epidemic ("Black Death"), from which noble society is hiding in country estate, and is full of subtle psychologism and unexpected collisions.

From the 1340s Boccaccio worked on Genealogy pagan gods"(an essay in 15 books devoted to the analysis of ancient mythology, including the geography of myths). In 1350 he met Petrarch, who became his best friend. A circle of humanists formed around Boccaccio, among whom Coluccio Salutati and Filippo Villani later became famous. In addition, Boccaccio obtained from the city fathers the establishment of a department Greek language, which was occupied by the Greek from Calabria Leontius Pilate (1359). Boccaccio not only accepted the teacher into own home and maintained it at his own expense, but also acquired valuable Greek manuscripts for educational purposes and, apparently, carried out literary processing of Leontius’s translations from ancient Greek. Although Leonty Pilate was not the best and most educated commentator on the Iliad and Odyssey, he was still able to prepare the first Latin translation Homeric poems.

Boccaccio also did everything possible to ensure that the Florentine authorities provided Petrarch with the opportunity to live comfortably and create in Florence, but he declined the offered honor. Friendly communication and correspondence between the two great humanists continued for many years, in particular in the early 1360s. - during the period severe shocks And moral quest- Boccaccio himself takes advantage of Petrarch’s hospitality: he moves to Venice in 1363, where he settled.

IN last period life, along with the continuation of work on the “Genealogy of the Pagan Gods” (up to 1371), Boccaccio’s main work was the glorification of personality and creativity - the great forerunner of humanism. Boccaccio writes "Commentaries on the Divine Comedy" (about 1362), which later became traditional for humanists, "Eulogy of Dante" (about 1360), and also, before his death, a cycle public lectures about him, read in the Church of St. Stephen in Florence. These works were the only works written by Boccaccio in Volgar in mature period his life. Boccaccio now prefers to write works in Latin and in more serious genres than before. In 1351-1367 he wrote in Latin a “Bucolic Poem” (imitation of Virgil), treatises “On Misfortunes” famous people" and "Oh famous women"(more than a hundred biographies from Eve to Queen Joan of Naples, heiress of King Robert). This last treatise, in its mood, is the complete opposite of youthful works full of the spirit of hedonism, such as “The Hunt of Diana” and others.

In the late 1350s - early 1360s, Boccaccio experienced a deep spiritual crisis, the cause of which some biographers see in love failures and disappointments, others, on the contrary, in the natural acquisition of spiritual maturity through serious religious quest. In 1362 Boccaccio even accepted ordination under the influence of the monk Gioachino Ciani, he not only renounced the hedonistic spirit of his previous writings, but also began to argue that even the institutions of marriage and family recognized by the church were dangerous and detrimental to cultural and moral development. Such intolerance towards women, which Boccaccio began to show in the last period of his life, caused controversy from other humanists, for example. But, apparently, it was precisely this circumstance that allowed the Florentine bishop, who knew Boccaccio well, to certify the author of the Decameron and many love poems, known for his affections and who left behind several illegitimate children, as “a man of impeccable purity of faith and morals.”

Boccaccio, Giovanni (1313-1375), Italian prose writer, poet, humanist. The illegitimate son of the merchant Boccaccio del fu Kellino, better known as Boccaccino from Certaldo, a town southwest of Florence, Boccaccio was born in 1313, presumably in Paris; his mother, Jeanne, was French.

At the time of the birth of his son, Boccaccino was working for the Florentine banking house of Bardi. In 1316 or a little later, his employers recalled him to Florence. He took his son with him and early years future writer spent in the beneficial atmosphere of the city, where by that time commerce and the arts flourished. Under the guidance of Giovanni da Strada, father of the poet Zanobi, he studied "grammar" (Latin). Later, his father decided to introduce him to “arithmetic” - the art of keeping accounts.

Boccaccio Giovanni (1313-1375), Italian writer, humanist of the Early Renaissance. Poems based on ancient mythology, the psychological story “Fiammetta” (1343, published in 1472), pastorals, sonnets. The main work “The Decameron” (1350-53, published in 1470) is a book of realistic short stories imbued with humanistic ideas, the spirit of freethinking and anti-clericalism, rejection of ascetic morality, and cheerful humor - a multi-colored panorama of the morals of Italian society. The poem "The Raven" (1354-55, published in 1487), the book "The Life of Dante Alighieri" (c. 1360, published in 1477).

Boccaccio Giovanni (1313, Paris - December 21, 1375, Certaldo, Tuscany, Italy), Italian poet, writer, expert on classical antiquity.

He was born in Paris, but throughout his conscious and creative life he was associated with such cultural centers of the Italian Renaissance as Naples and Florence. He was the illegitimate son of a Frenchwoman of noble birth and a wealthy Florentine merchant, at whose insistence he began to study law, banking and commerce at a very early age in the company of the Bardi, a famous merchant family.

From 1330 he was with his father in Naples, who was a supplier to the court of the Neapolitan king Robert of Anjou. It was this sovereign, the patron of the arts, who noticed the gift of young Boccaccio, who, by his own admission, began to compose poetry as soon as he learned the letters. Boccaccio's creative vocation, his interest in the fine arts and classical antiquities were supported and developed in communication with a circle of artists, poets and thinkers close to the court of Robert of Anjou. At different times, Giotto, Cino da Pistoia, and Barlaam of Calabria were at this brilliant court; the royal librarian who gave lessons to the young Boccaccio was Paolo Perugino. The love for Maria d'Aquino, the king's natural daughter, who he met in Naples, inspired many of Boccaccio's love lyrics.

It was during his stay in Naples at the grave of Virgil that Boccaccio vowed to devote his entire life to the service of the fine arts and poetry. Here, in his young years, he created several popular works: “The Hunt of Diana” - a poetic work in terza (circa 1336), in which noble Neapolitan ladies are represented as heroines of ancient myths - companions of the goddess Diana, “Philostrato” (1338) - a poem in octaves on themes of the Trojan cycle, “Theseid” (1339). All these works are written in the vernacular Italian language - the so-called “Volgar” and are often adaptations of the plots of southern French medieval works.

In 1340, Boccaccio, at the insistence of his father, returned to Florence. With the exception of a short period in 1351, when he was in straitened circumstances after the death of his father, he avoided holding permanent positions in the communal hierarchy or in the service of influential persons. At the same time, during his life, Boccaccio willingly carried out honorary diplomatic missions on behalf of the Florentine Republic, and was a member of embassies sent to Romagna (1351), Ravenna and Rome (1367), Naples (1351), Avignon (1354 and 1365), Venice ( 1367 and 1368.). It is obvious that Boccaccio enjoyed respect and authority among his fellow citizens.

During his life in Florence, he created the prose works that made him famous: “Fiametta” (1343), “Decameron” (1348-1353), as well as the poetic cycle “The Fiesolan Nymphs” (1345). Boccaccio's literary masterpiece "The Decameron" became a model of perfection of language and style for Italian authors, a classic of world literature. The Decameron presents one hundred stories told on behalf of noble Florentine ladies and young men; The narrative takes place against the backdrop of a plague epidemic (“Black Death”), from which noble society is hiding on a country estate, and is full of subtle psychologism and unexpected collisions.

From the 1340s Boccaccio worked on the “Genealogy of Pagan Gods” (a work in 15 books devoted to the analysis of ancient mythology, including the geography of myths). In 1350 he met Petrarch, who became his best friend. A circle of humanists formed around Boccaccio, among whom Coluccio Salutati and Filippo Villani later became famous. In addition, Boccaccio obtained from the city fathers the establishment of a department of the Greek language, which was occupied by a Greek from Calabria, Leontius Pilate (1359). Boccaccio not only received a teacher in his own home and supported him at his own expense, but also acquired valuable Greek manuscripts for teaching purposes and, apparently, carried out literary processing of Leontius’s translations from ancient Greek. Although Leontius Pilate was not the best and most educated commentator on the Iliad and Odyssey, he was still able to prepare the first Latin translation of Homer’s poems for the West.

Boccaccio also did everything possible to ensure that the Florentine authorities provided Petrarch with the opportunity to live comfortably and create in Florence, but he declined the offered honor. Friendly communication and correspondence between the two great humanists continued for many years, in particular in the early 1360s. - in a period of severe upheavals and moral quests - Boccaccio himself took advantage of Petrarch’s hospitality: he moved to Venice in 1363, where he settled.

In the last period of his life, along with the continuation of work on the “Genealogy of the Pagan Gods” (up to 1371), Boccaccio’s main work was the glorification of the personality and creativity of Dante, the great forerunner of humanism. Boccaccio writes “Commentaries on the Divine Comedy” (circa 1362), which later became traditional for humanists, “Eulogy of Dante” (circa 1360), as well as, before his death, a series of public lectures about him, read in the Church of St. Stephen in Florence. These works were the only works written by Boccaccio in the Volgar during the mature period of his life. Boccaccio now prefers to write works in Latin and in more serious genres than before. In 1351-1367, he wrote in Latin a “Bucolic Poem” (imitation of Virgil), treatises “On the Misfortunes of Famous People” and “On Famous Women” (more than a hundred biographies from Eve to Queen Joanna of Naples, heiress of King Robert). This last treatise, in its mood, is the complete opposite of youthful works full of the spirit of hedonism, such as “Diana’s Hunt” and others.

In the late 1350s - early 1360s, Boccaccio experienced a deep spiritual crisis, the cause of which some biographers see in love failures and disappointments, others, on the contrary, in the natural acquisition of spiritual maturity through serious religious quests. In 1362, Boccaccio even took holy orders under the influence of the monk Gioachino Ciani and not only renounced the hedonistic spirit of his previous writings, but also began to argue that even the institutions of marriage and family recognized by the church were dangerous and detrimental to cultural and moral development. Such intolerance towards women, which Boccaccio began to show in the last period of his life, caused controversy from other humanists, for example, Leonardo Bruni. But, apparently, it was precisely this circumstance that allowed the Florentine bishop, who knew Boccaccio well, to certify the author of the Decameron and many love poems, known for his affections and who left behind several illegitimate children, as “a man of impeccable purity of faith and morals.”

Giovanni Boccaccio- Italian writer and poet, representative of the literature of the early Renaissance. Author of poems based on ancient mythology, the psychological story “Fiammetta” (1343, published in 1472), pastorals, and sonnets. The main work is “The Decameron” (1350-1353, published in 1470) - a book of short stories imbued with humanistic ideas, the spirit of freethinking and anti-clericalism, rejection of ascetic morality, cheerful humor, a multi-colored panorama of the morals of Italian society.

Illegitimate son of a Florentine merchant and a French woman. His family came from Certaldo, which is why he called himself Boccaccio da Certaldo. Already in infancy, he showed a strong inclination towards poetry, but in his tenth year his father apprenticed him to a merchant, who fussed with him for 6 whole years and was nevertheless forced to send him back to his father due to young Boccaccio’s ineradicable aversion to merchant occupation. However, Boccaccio had to languish over merchant books in Naples for another 8 years until his father finally lost patience and allowed him to study canon law. Only after the death of his father (1348) did Boccaccio have the opportunity to fully devote himself to his penchant for literature. During his stay at the court of the Neapolitan King Robert, he became friends with many scientists of that time, among his close friends, in particular, was the famous mathematician Paolo Dagomari, gained the favor of the young Queen Joanna and Lady Mary, his inspiration, later described by him under the name of Fiammetta .

His friendship with Petrarch began back in 1341 in Rome and continued until the latter’s death. He owes it to Petrarch that he parted with his former wild and not entirely chaste life and generally became more demanding of himself. In 1349, Boccaccio finally settled in Florence and was repeatedly elected by his fellow citizens for diplomatic assignments. Thus, in 1350 he was envoy to Astarro di Polento in Ravenna; in 1351 he was sent to Padua to inform Petrarch of the reversal of the sentence of his exile and to persuade him to take a chair at the University of Florence. In December of the same year, he received instructions from Ludwig V of Brandenburg, son of Ludwig IV of Bavaria, to ask for his help against (Visconti). In 1353 he was sent to Innocent VI in Avignon to negotiate the latter's upcoming meeting with Charles IV and later to Urban V. From 1363 he settled on a small estate in Certaldo, living on meager means and completely burying himself in his books. There he contracted a long-term illness, from which he slowly recovered. Through his efforts, the Florentines, who had once expelled their great citizen Dante, established a special department to explain the latter’s poem, and this department was entrusted to Boccaccio in 1373. Petrarch's death upset him so much that he fell ill and died 17 months later, on December 21, 1375.

The monument to Boccaccio, erected in Piazza Solferino in Certaldo, was opened on June 22, 1879. A crater on Mercury is named in honor of Boccaccio.

Boccaccio was the first humanist and one of the most learned men in Italy. He studied astronomy with Andalone del Nero and kept the Calabrian Leontius Pilate, a great expert in Greek literature, in his house for three whole years, so that he could read Homer with him. Like his friend Petrarch, he collected books and with his own hand copied many rare manuscripts, almost all of which were lost during the fire in the monastery of Santo Spirito (1471). He used his influence on his contemporaries to arouse in them a love of studying and getting to know the ancients. Through his efforts, the department of Greek language and its literature was founded in Florence. He was one of the first to draw public attention to the pitiful state of science in monasteries, which were considered their guardians. In the monastery of Monte Cassino, the most famous and learned in all of Europe at that time, Boccaccio found the library neglected to such an extent that the books on the shelves were covered with layers of dust, some manuscripts had their leaves torn out, others were cut up and distorted, and, for example, wonderful the manuscripts of Homer and Plato were littered with inscriptions and theological polemics. There he learned, among other things, that the brothers were making whistles for children and talismans for women from these manuscripts.

Boccaccio's early works (of the Neapolitan period) include: the poems "Philostrota" (c. 1335), "Theseides" (c. 1339-41), the novel "Filocolo" (c. 1336-38), based on the plots of medieval novels. Later works (Florentine period): “The Fiesolan Nymphs” (1345), inspired by Ovid’s “Metamorphoses”, “Ameto”, and the story “Fiametta” (1343). The pinnacle of Boccaccio’s creativity is “The Decameron”.

In Italian he wrote “Theseide,” the first attempt at a romantic epic in octaves; “Love Vision” (“Amorosa visione”); "Filocolo", a novel in which the plot is borrowed from the ancient French romance of Floire and Blancheflor; “Fiammetta” (“L’amorosa Fiammetta”, Padua, 1472), a touching story of the mental suffering of the abandoned Fiammetta; “Ameto” (Venice, 1477) - pastoral novel in prose and verse; "Filostrato" ("Il Filostrato", published 1480), a poem in octaves depicting the love story of Troilus and Cressida; “Il corbaccio o labirinto d’amore” (Florence, 1487) - a caustic pamphlet on women (“Corbaccio”) (1354-1355, published in 1487).

Latin writings

Boccaccio is the author of a number of historical and mythological works in Latin. These include the encyclopedic work “Genealogy of the Pagan Gods” in 15 books (first edition around 1360), treatises “On mountains, forests, springs, lakes, rivers, swamps and seas” (started around 1355-1357); 9 books “On the misfortunes of famous people” (first edition circa 1360). The book “On Famous Women” (started circa 1361) includes 106 women's biographies- from Evy to Queen Joan of Naples.