Petrarch, Francesco (1304–1374)

Francesco Petrarch (Petracco) was an Italian poet and scholar widely recognized as the “father of humanism.” He revived European interest in the knowledge of antiquity through his writings and collection of ancient texts.

Petrarch marks a transition in time from the Middle Ages to the Renaissance. Deeply critical of the neglect that ancient texts received in Europe during the Middle Ages, he sought to personally collect and translate ancient writings, visiting monasteries and churches around Europe. Were it not for his work, the Latin writing of ancient historians such as Cicero might be largely unknown today. Petrarch thus preserved the historical record for future generations. He referred to the centuries after the fall of Rome as the Dark Ages and personally laid the foundation for the rebirth of learning now known as the Renaissance.

Petrarch was born in Arezzo, Italy, on July 20, 1304. His family moved to Avignon in 1309 in support of Pope Clement V and the Avignon papacy. Petrarch studied at Montpellier and Bologna where he developed an interest in Latin literature. Following his studies he held various clerical posts and devoted much time to writing. His first major work, Africa, is a Latin epic about the Roman general Scipio Africanus. Petrarch considered this his greatest work, revising it throughout his life. His other Latin works include De Contemptu Mundi, an imaginary dialogue between the author and Saint Augustine, and Itinerarium (1358), a guide to the Holy Land. Petrarch saw no contradiction between humanism and faith, expressing his own religious faith in De Vita Solitaria, in praise of monastic life.

Petrarch wrote hundreds of poems in Italian. Most of these are compiled in his famous Canzioniere, a book of songs. In these poems, which consist primarily of sonnets and odes, Petrarch expresses his devotion to a beloved woman named Laura. He pursued Laura until her death and afterward wrote of her as a guide to God. Petrarch achieved great fame with his Canzioniere. In 1341 he was crowned as poet laureate in Rome. This tribute is often cited as marking the transition to the beginning of the Renaissance period, as Petrarch was the first poet in centuries to have received the honor. He traveled widely throughout Europe on diplomatic missions, befriending both Dante Alighieri, author of the Divine Comedy, and Giovanni Boccaccio, author of the Decameron. Together with the writings of these two prominent authors, Petrarch's writing helped to render the Tuscan dialect as the standard Italian language. He also maintained a wide correspondence, exchanging numerous letters with scholars around Europe. By his role in initiating the Italian Renaissance, Petrarch set in motion a series of revolutions over time that changed the course of world history. He has often been referred to as the first modern man.

Petrarch died on July 19, 1374, a day short of his 70th birthday. He is buried in Padua.