Petrarch

Petrarch (or Francesco Petrarca) (July 20, 1304 – July 19, 1374) was an Italian scholar, poet and one of the earliest humanists. Petrarch is often called the "Father of Humanism".

Life[edit | edit source]

Born in Arezzo, Tuscany, Petrarch spent his early childhood in the village of Incisa, near Florence. He spent much of his early life at Avignon and nearby Carpentras, where his family moved to follow Pope Clement V who moved there in 1309 to begin the Avignon Papacy.

Works[edit | edit source]

Petrarch's earliest work was writing in Latin. His Latin writings include scholarly works, introspective essays, letters, and more poetry. He is best known for his Italian poetry, notably the Canzoniere and the Trionfi. The Canzoniere, also known as the Rime Sparse, but originally titled Rerum vulgarium fragmenta, is a collection of poems by Petrarch.

Legacy[edit | edit source]

Petrarch's influence is evident in the works of many, including Chaucer and Shakespeare. His sonnets were admired and imitated throughout Europe during the Renaissance and became a model for lyrical poetry.