Cositutti's Blog - Seeing and Savoring Italy follows the thoughts of Marsilio Ficino who wrote about the Renaissance Convivium
" a gathering meant to be the food of good will, the seasoning of friendship, the leavening of grace and the solace of life; it revives humours, restores spirit, delights senses, fosters and awakens reason" from the letters of Marsilio Ficino to Bernardo Bembo
And for those of you who are on an espresso fueled fast track you can see and savor Italy in 30 seconds or less atItaly in 30 Seconds: A Written Dose of Espresso, a contributory blog with literary baristas who inform, excite and encourage you to experience Italy.
Who is Marsilio Ficino? A 15th century Italian philosopher and scholar, Marsilio Ficino (1433-1499) was the most important intellectual figure in the circle of Lorenzo de'Medici during the Italian Renaissance. He influenced Renaissance thought through his translation and explanation of the works of Plato. An informal circle of friends would often gather with Ficino at the Medici villa in Careggi to discuss the teachings of the ancient philosophers.
Who is Bernardo Bembo? The Venetian ambassador to Florence as well as one of the greatest Italian book collectors of the fifteenth century. The portrait of "Ginevra de Benci" (1474), the only painting by Leonardo da Vinci in the United States, is said to have been commissioned by Bernardo Bembo whose affection for her was shared as a platonic affair. The painting was acquired in 1967 by the National Gallery of Art in Washington, DC for $5 million dollars paid to the Royal House of Liechtenstein.
