Giovanni Rucellai and Leonardo Bruni,Florence in the Quattrocento (1427 and 1457)
The Petrarchan ideal of humanism, which had refocused attention on the classics with special attention to language and letters, was given new expression in the 1400s. While Francesco Petrarch (1304–1374) had found answers to many of his life questions through introspection, civic humanists felt that a true life could only be lived within the hustle and bustle of Italian city politics. A civic humanist was one who applied humanism’s academic principles to the active, political life. The first document is by Giovanni Rucellai (1403–1481), a merchant connected through marriage and patronage to two great families of Florence, the Strozzis and Medicis, who made their fortunes in business and banking, respectively. The second document is a funeral oration for a leading citizen, given in the midst of the wars with Milan by Leonardo Bruni (1369–1444), a noted scholar of the Greek language who served as Florence’s chancellor and official historian. Both men paint portraits of Florence and the ideal Renaissance man.
From KOHL. Major Problems in the History of the Italian Renaissance, 1E. © 1995 Wadsworth, a part of Cengage Learning, Inc. Reproduced by permission. www.cengage.com/permissions
Rucellai’s “A Merchant’s Praise of Florence”
Most people believe that our age, from 1400 onward, is the most fortunate period in Florence’s history. I shall now explain why this is so. It is commonly believed that since 1400 the Italians have been superior to all other nations in the art of war, whereas before 1400 the northern Europeans were thought to be peerless. Thanks to their intelligence, astuteness, cunning, and strategic ability, the Italians are now the best at seizing cities and winning battles. In this age, moreover, there are more outstanding scholars of Greek, Latin, and Hebrew in Florence than ever before. . . . Our men of letters have revived the elegance of the ancient style that has long been lost and forgotten. Those who have participated in the government of the city since 1400 have surpassed all their predecessors. Likewise, the dominion of Florence has considerably expanded. . . .
There have not been such accomplished masters in joinery and woodcarving since the days of antiquity: they are able to produce such skillfully designed works in perspective that a painter could not do any better. The same can be said of our masters in painting and drawing, whose ability, sense of proportion, and precision are so great that Giotto and Cimabue would not even be accepted as their pupils. Similarly, we cannot forget to mention our excellent tapestry makers and goldsmiths.
Never before have men and women dressed in such expensive and elegant clothing. Women wear brocade and embroidered gowns covered with jewels and saunter through the streets in their French-style hats that cost at least two hundred florins apiece. Neither the city nor the countryside has ever had such an abundance of household goods. . . .
This age has also had four notable citizens who deserve to be remembered. The first one is Palla di Nofri Strozzi, who possessed all seven of the things necessary for a man’s happiness: a worthy homeland, noble and distinguished ancestors, a good knowledge of Greek and Latin, refinement, physical beauty, a good household, and honestly earned wealth. . . . Then we have Cosimo de’ Medici, probably not only the richest Florentine, but the richest Italian of all time. . . . The third citizen I shall mention is Messer Leonardo di Francesco Bruni. Although he was born in Arezzo, he was an honorary citizen of Florence. He had a unique knowledge of and expertise in Greek, Hebrew, and Latin and was more famous than any rhetorician after Cicero. . . . Finally, Filippo, son of Ser Brunellesco, was a master architect and sculptor. He was an accomplished geometer and . . . is the one who rediscovered ancient Roman building techniques.
The earnings of the Florentine commune are now greater than ever. In this period, both in our city and in its countryside, people have witnessed tremendous wars and political upheaval, the like of which were never seen in the past. Churches and hospitals are richer than ever, better supplied with gold and silk paraments and precious silver. There are numerous friars and priests caring for these places, which the faithful visit constantly. Men and women attend Mass and other religious ceremonies with greater devotion than ever. . . .
The citizens have never had so much wealth, merchandise, and property, nor have the Monte’s1 interests ever been so conspicuous; consequently, the sums spent on weddings, tournaments, and various forms of entertainment are greater than ever before. Between 1418 and 1423 Florence’s wealth was probably at its height. At the time, in the Mercato Nuovo and the streets nearby, there were seventy-two exchange banks.
Bruni’s Funeral Oration for Nanni Strozzi, 1427
This is an exceptional funeral oration because it is appropriate neither to weep or lament. . . . His first claim to fame is conferred on him because of his country’s merit. For the homeland is the first and chief basis of human happiness and more worthy of our veneration than even our own parents. If we begin therefore by praising the motherland, we will be starting in the right order.
He was born in the most spacious and greatest of cities, wide-ruling and endowed with the mightiest power, without question the foremost of all the Etruscan cities. Indeed, it is second to none of the cities of Italy either in origin, wealth, or size. . . . The Tuscans had been the chief people of Italy and supreme both in authority and wealth. Before the foundation of the Roman empire their power was so great that they had the seas on both sides of Italy under their control and governed the whole length of the country. . . . Finally, this one people diffused the worship of the immortal gods as well as learning and letters throughout Italy. . . .
What city, therefore, can be more excellent, more noble? What descended from more glorious antecedents? . . . [Our fathers] so established and governed it that they were in no way inferior to their own fathers in virtue. Sustained by the most sacred laws, the state was ruled by them with such wisdom that they served as an example of good moral behavior for other peoples and had no need to take others as their model. . . .
Worthy of praise as well are those who are its present-day citizens. They have augmented the power received from their predecessors even more by adding Pisa and a number of other great cities to their empire through their virtue and valor in arms. . . .
Our form of governing the state aims at achieving liberty and equality for each and every citizen. Because it is equal in all respects it is called a popular government. We tremble before no lord nor are we dominated by the power of a few. All enjoy the same liberty, governed only by law and free from fear of individuals. Everyone has the same hope of attaining honors and of improving his condition provided he is industrious, has talent and a good sober way of life. For our city requires virtue and honesty in its citizens. . . .
This is true liberty and equality in a city to fear the power of no one nor dread injury from them; to experience equality of law among the citizens and the same opportunity of ruling the state. These advantages cannot be had where one man rules or a few. . . .
This capacity for a free people to attain honors and this ability to pursue one’s goals serve in a marvelous way to excite men’s talents. For with the hope of honors extended, men raise themselves and surge upward; excluded they become lifeless. . . . Our citizens excel so greatly in talents and intelligence that few equal them and none surpass them. They have vivacity and industry and alacrity and agility in acting with a greatness of spirit equal to all challenges.
We thrive not only in governing the republic, in domestic arts, and in engaging in business everywhere, but we are also distinguished for military glory. . . .
What now shall I say about literature and scholarship in which all concede that Florence is the chief and most splendid leader? . . . But I am speaking about those more civilized and lofty studies which are considered more excellent and worthy of everlasting immortal glory. For who is able to name a poet in our generation or in the last one who is not Florentine? Who but our citizens recalled this skill at eloquence, already lost, to light, to practical use, and to life? Who but they understood Latin literature, already abject, prostrate and almost dead, and raised it up, restored and reclaimed it from destruction? . . . For the same reason, should not our city be proclaimed the parent of the Latin language . . . ? Now the knowledge of Greek literature, which had decayed in Italy for more than seven hundred years, has been revived and restored by our city. . . . Finally, these humanities most excellent and of highest value, especially relevant for human beings, necessary both for private and public life, adorned with a knowledge of letters worthy of free men, have originated in our city and are now thriving throughout Italy. The city enjoys such resources and wealth that I fear to arouse jealousy by referring to its inexhaustible supply of money. This is demonstrated by the long Milanese war waged at an almost incredible cost. . . . Now at the end of the war men are more prompt in paying their taxes than they were at the beginning of the war.
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