Lovato Lovati (1241–1309) was an Italian scholar, poet, notary, judge and humanist from the High Middle Ages and early Italian Renaissance. Arguable among historians, Lovati is considered the "father of Humanism." His literary Padua circle included Rolando de Piazzola, Geremia da Montagnone, and Albertino Mussato. Lovati's scholarship marked characteristics which would later define the development of humanism: an appetite for classical texts; a philological concern to correct them, and ascertain their meaning; and a desire to imitate them.Mann 2011, p. 7. Scholars such as Petrarch commented on his works favorably. Lovati's achievements which survive today are his Latin verse epistles, and his short commentary of Seneca's tragedies.
Early life, education, and career The exact birthdate of Lovato Lovati is not known; William Sisler suggests 1241 whereas Ronald Witt asserts that it is 1240. However it is certain that he was born in Padua.Witt 2000, p. 92.Sisler "Translation of Lovato Lovati's 'Metrical Epistles' with parallel passages from ancient authors.", 1. Lovato's father, Rolando Lovati, was a notary along with Lovato's brother, Alberto Lovati. A young Lovato in the 1250s and 1260s benefitted greatly from a revival of formal study of ancient texts, this revival took place in the studio of Padua, which was the local university.Witt 2000, p. 95. During these years it is possible that Lovato was taught by Ronaldino of Padua, a writer at the time.Witt 2000, p. 94. Lovato was tasked with educating his nephew, Rolando da Piazzola, and he later dedicated a poem to him.Witt 2000, p. 111. This nephew was the son of his sister who married Guido da Piazzola.
Despite being among the progenitors of the Italian humanist movement, Lovato Lovati's primary occupation was his work as a notary and judge. Although Lovato was enamoured by his poetic, scholarly, and literary interests; the majority of Lovato's time was consumed by his occupation.Witt 2000, p. 103. At the age of 16 or 17 Lovato began to work as a notary making copies from his father's register, a signature on a document dated in 1257 suggests that Lovato's formal education had ended by this point. It seems that Lovato's father, Rolando, intended for Lovato to have the same career as him. On May 6, 1267, Lovato was accepted into Padua's College of Judges at the age of 26 or 27. At least six years of formal legal study was required for admission into the college, implying that by this point in time Lovato had completed this. Within the first year of being admitted into the college of judges Lovato composed two poems: one to Compagnino (a Paduan lawyer and friend of Lovato), and another poem written in dactylic hexameter. One year later in 1268, Lovato married Jacopina de Vicenzo da Solesina with whom he had a son named Ronaldo. By 1271 Lovato was a judge in the palace of the Commune, and in 1273 he became gastaldo of the College of Judges. Although the positions of notary and judge were not socially esteemed positions, Lovato used his profession to bolster his fortune and influence in Padua.
The following is a brief list of Lovato Lovati's career accomplishments outside his poetic work: In 1275 Lovato was involved in the acquisition of land for a Paduan hospital named "Domus Dei" In 1282 Lovato became podesta of Bassano In 1283 an archeological discovery occurred, and the remains from a large corpse were found. Lovato identified them as the remains as Antenor, who was the mythical trojan founder of Padua. Lovato was commissioned to create an inscription for a sarcophagus made for the remains.Mann 2011, p. 6. In 1284 Lovato witnessed at a resolution given by Lodovico Capodivaca In 1286 Lovato assisted in the hall of the Maggiore Consiglio In 1287 he assisted in the Bishop's residence In 1288 Lovato assisted in the church of St. Martin In 1290 he assisted in the Office of the Inquisition In 1291 Lovato became a knight and podesta of Vicenza In 1295 he assisted in the convent of St. AnthonySisler, 1977, p. 1.
The security of Padua seems to have been an important concern to Lovato during his lifetime, he expressed anxiety in his poetry over the threat of Venice and Charles of Anjou.Ronald G. Witt, "Latini, Lovato and the Revival of Antiquity," Dante Studies, with the Annual Report of the Dante Society 112 (1994): 6. For the majority of Lovato's life Padua pursued an aggressive policy or territorial expansion: by 1267 Vicenza and Bassano were both brought under Paduan territory. In 1304 Lovato was selected to appear as a witness for the Paduan alliance with Verona.Sisler, 1977, p. 2. Although he was deceased by this time, in the early 14th century Padua absorbed the county of Rovigo. Lovato's opinions on this political instability was often expressed in his poetry, in 1302 the Paduan poet Mussato called on Lovato in a poem to predict the consequences of Padua's warfare with Charles of Anjou and several Tuscan cities. Lovato responded by stating his fears that the conflict would lead to increased factionalism within Padua and reasoned that liberty would only thrive in a time of peace. In Lovato's final years he seems to be cognisant of the weakness of the Paduan commune, possibly taking Padua's defeat by the Venetian salt monopoly in 1304 as a bad omen. In October 1304 following the Treaty of Treviso, a treaty that ended the Salt War with Venice, a poem Lovato wrote to Mussato displays his anxiety over the treaty. Lovato was concerned that the peace might not be genuine and that animosity between the two cities would continue. Although Lovato felt that the treaty gave an unequal advantage to Venice, Lovato urged for peace in his poems and thought the loss of salt marshes was minor compared to peace. In one of his poems at the time, Lovato stated: "Peace, even a simulated one, is peace: often the true follows the feigned."Witt, 2000, p. 109-111. Along with Mussato, Lovato was part of a circle of Paduan literati that met to discuss and create poetic works. Albertino Mussato is often credited as being the brightest member of this circle.Sisler, 1977, p. 7. Lovato often enjoyed conversations with another member of this circle, Bellino Bissoli; both authors had drastically different approaches to poetry.Witt, 2000, p. 112.
Lovato died on March 7, 1309. Prior to his death Lovato prepared epitaphs to embellish his resting place, leaving two inscriptions on his tomb.Sisler, 1977, p. 3. According to Giovanni del Virgilio, on Lovato's deathbed he gave his reed pipes to Albertino Mussato and said: "Since you are deemed gifted by the muses, by these will you be muse-inspired. Ivy will circle your temples." This symbolic gesture can be seen as way of Lovato recognizing Mussato as his poetic heir.Witt, 2000, p. 117.
Philosophical work
On the imitation of ancient philosophy It was around 1290 when Lovato Lovati affirmed his intention to follow in the footsteps of the ancient poets—a principle that conditioned his whole approach to antiquity. In a letter written to his friend, Bellino Bissolo, Lovati declared, "Your actions, in order to be praiseworthy, should be distant from the two extremes by an equal distance…However, if you must "Err" on one side, it should be on the side of the daring."Sisler, 1977, p. 53. Although ridiculed for his rigid maintenance of ancient poetic standards, Lovati was motivated to apply himself into ancient texts. Lovato compared his willingness to absorb ancient principles to several Greek ancients such as Capeneus and Achilles. In response towards critiques he wrote, "I won't change my mind. I stand fast, as in my habit, and I won't correct the vice of my long disease."Sisler, 1977, p. 54.
On ancient literature While assessing ancient literature, Lovato characterized three features which mark the development of humanism: an appetite for classical texts; a philological concern to correct them and ascertain their meaning, and a desire to imitate them.Mann, 2011, p. 7. Noted by Petrarch, it was Lovato's study of law which introduced him to the ancient literature. However while drawing on ancient Roman sources for their own work, Lovato and his disciple Albertino Mussato, showed little interest in investigating the nature of the society, that produced them.Witt, 2012, p. 700. Lovato's poetry exposed his confused notion of the ancient past, where Greek and Roman history and mythology mingle without distinction as their basis in reality. Yet, Lovati's success demonstrated his profound intensive study of ancient law, vocabulary and phraseology. His stylistic accomplishments, and ability to imitate ancient Latin, suggest that he was at least making a beginning of establishing an emotional and intellectual contact with a segment of the ancient experience.Witt, 1990, p. 96. A keen admirer of the Roman dramatist Seneca, Lovato demonstrated his clear understanding of metrical structure of ancient Latin poetry, later producing the earliest Renaissance treatise on metrics. He wrote a short account of Senecan meters,Nauert, 1995, p. 6. illustrating Latin poet's preference for two verse patterns, the pentameter and the hexameter.Rabil, 1988, p. 73. In his letters, Lovato strives to match classical vocabulary, meter and tone, revealing a strong emphasis of grammatical components towards the literary movement. Evidently, Lovato only reformed his poetry, leaving his prose untouched. Unlike his poetry, Lovato's Dictamina borrowed few phrases from ancient authors, not erecting the effect of ancient prose.Witt, 2001, p. 30. This bifurcation of Lovato's work is characteristic of the literary movement he pioneered for the first forty years.
On language In the 1180s, French culture slowly emerged in the Italian peninsula, propelling an indigenous literary and intellectual development. The French cultural movement encouraged poets to reflect on the historiography of grammar within poetry.Witt, 2001, p. 51. As a result, pressure increased to intensify the study of ancient French and Provençal texts. This pressure, combined with his spirit of competition, inspired Lovato to not only write, but also defend ancient Latin poetry against those who preferred modern vernacular verse.Witt, 2000, p. 54. He argued against using the vernacular language in poetry and song.Witt, 1990, p. 100. For instance he wrote, "At random, he mutilated songs in French, gaping in barbarous fashion, rolling them out as he pleased, no part of them in their proper order, songs relying on no effort."Sisler, 1977, p. 50. Lovato described the French as simply comprehensible to popular audience, easy, and loose, thus revealing his disdain for the language.Witt 1990, p. 98.
On mythology and self-praise Lovato was involved in a large discovery of the ceremonious reburial and supposed body remains of the mythical founder of Padua, the Trojan Antenor.Nauert, 1995 p. 6. The reception of his discovery illustrated the depth of admiration felt by the multitude for an ancient society that was a part of their cultural mythology. In contrast to his interest in mythology, Lovato was immensely critical over the influence of self-praise on his works. In order to convey his clarity and knowledge, Lovato recognized self-praise would only inhibit and clutter his execution of poetry and prose.Sisler, 1977, p. 52.
Writing style, work and achievements