The life and career of Aegidius Antonini of Viterbo (1469-1532) – Augustinian hermit and cardinal of the Catholic Church – challenge Renaissance historiography. His expertise in Greek and Latin poetry, his lifelong interest in Plato’s dialogues and Marsilio Ficino, along with his innovative reinterpretation of Hebrew mysticism may indeed fit the category of Renaissance hermetism, a cultural trend that, according to Frances Yates, paved the way for the advent of modern science. His commitment to a renovation of the Church to be attained with a return to Scriptures and an internal reformation of Catholic institutions, moreover, may be matched with other Christian humanists living in pre-Reformation Europe. At closer inspection, …
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Citation: Soranzo, Matteo. "Aegidius Antonini of Viterbo". The Literary Encyclopedia. First published 09 March 2012 [https://staging.litencyc.com/php/speople.php?rec=true&UID=12861, accessed 24 November 2024.]
