LifeinItaly Logo

You are at > Life in Italy > Culture > Ludovico Ariosto


Italian Culture
Italians
Italy
Christmas in Italy
Italian Inventions
Dalai Lama in Rome
Festa Della Donna
Italy and Death
Halloween in Italy
More Halloween Info
Ludovico Ariosto
Dante Alighieri
Petrarca  I
Petrarca II
Boccaccio
Manzoni
Vittorio Alfieri
Francesco Berni
Niccolò Machiavelli
India Italy
See also:
History
Contact Us


The Intriguing Life of Vittorio Alfieri: Italian Dramatist and Poet

Life and Work of Ludovico Ariosto

Ludovico Ariosto (1474-1533) was born on September 8th at Reggio Emilia (a town in North Italy, in the Emilia-Romagna region). Born to Niccolo Ariosto (a commander of the citadel of Reggio), he studied law in his earlier years. Then, after five years of law study, he began to study classical literature under the mentoring of Gregorio da Spoleto. Ariosto was going to study Greek as well as Latin, but missed this opportunity when his teacher was sent to France to tutor Francesco Sforza.

Ludovico Ariosto

The cardinal Ippolito d'Este was attracted by some of the prose and lyrics Ariosto was writing about the time that he was caring for his dying father. Having to set aside his other literary studies, Ariosto managed the family business affairs and the personal matters of nine brothers and sisters. It was during this time he started some of the comedies in his collection. The cardinal took Ariosto under his wing and appointed him a gentleman of his household. It was this cardinal that Ariosto says was ungrateful and paid him poorly. After d'Este started for Hungary in 1518, he asked Ariosto to join him there. Ariosto, feigning ill health, declined.

Alphonso, duke of Ferrara, a brother of cardinal d'Este, took Ariosto under his wing now after Ariosto made himself distinguished as a diplomat after two visits to Pope Julius II. On the last trip to the Pope, he was nearly killed. By order of the Pope he was to be killed, as the Pope was very unhappy with the duke of Ferrara. After losing his salary of 84 crowns a year, Ariosto was appointed to the province of Garfagnana (a historical region of Italy, today part of Lucca in the Appennines). It was here he stayed for three years, his governing satisfying both the sovereign and the people of the province themselves.

In 1508 his play "Cassaria" was shown, in 1509 it was "I Suppositi". Seven years after that, the first version of the "Orlando Furioso" (Orlando Enraged) was published in 30 cantos. The final version of "Orlando Furioso" (the 3rd edition) was published in 1532 in 46 cantos.

Ariosto died a year later, on July 6, 1533.

To read works by Ariosto: http://www.4literature.net/Lodovico_Ariosto/Orlando_Furioso/

By Tina Samuels


Join our Community to comment

Only members of lifeinItaly community are allowed to post.
Please join our community !

Existing members Click here to Login.

Not a member yet? Help LifeinItaly by registering! Register.

No Comments Posted

deruta ceramics

Ludovico Ariosto



© Copyright 2004-2008