Trifone Gabriel, Gabriele, Gabrielli or Gabriello (20 November 1470 - 20 October 1549) was an Italian humanist. He appeared not only in the painting '' Giovanni Borgherini and His Tutor'' but also in profile on the recto of a bronze medal by

Danese Cattaneo Danese Cattaneo (? – 1572) was an Italian sculptor and medallist, active mainly in the Veneto region of Italy. Danese was Tuscan in origin, born in either Massa di Carrara or Colonnata. He produced primarily sculptures of religious and histo ...

(with a woman beside a spring and a quotation from Psalm 23.4 on the reverse). Trifone's contemporaries admired him, holding him to be a model 15th century humanist whose "thousand rare gifts" made him an authoritative example of intellectual and moral life, uncontaminated by the world of early Renaissance courtiers. His "infinite humanity" and "unique kindness" gathered around Gabrielli many intellectuals, mostly from Tuscany and the Veneto, engaged in a renewal of the Italian language which symbolised and embodied the new broom of the Italian Renaissance. Giulio Camillo Delminio dedicated his "Anfiteatro della memoria" to Trifone "and to many other gentlemen". He was also mentioned and praised by several other writers such as

Ludovico Ariosto Ludovico Ariosto (, ; ; 8 September 1474 – 6 July 1533) was an Italian poet. He is best known as the author of the romance epic '' Orlando Furioso'' (1516). The poem, a continuation of Matteo Maria Boiardo's ''Orlando Innamorato'', describ ...

(who included him among his closest friends in the 46th canto of "

Orlando Furioso ''Orlando furioso'' (; ''The Frenzy of Orlando'') is an Italian epic poem by Ludovico Ariosto which has exerted a wide influence on later culture. The earliest version appeared in 1516, although the poem was not published in its complete form ...

") and Anche

Girolamo Muzio Girolamo Muzio or ''Mutio Justinopolitano'' (1496 in Padua, Republic of Venice 1576 in Barberino Val d'Elsa, Grand Duchy of Tuscany) was an Italian author in defence of the vernacular Italian language against Latin. Biography Girolamo Muzio wa ...

(who invoked his aid in his ''Arte Poetica'' as a "master of the language"), whilst Bembo and

Benedetto Varchi Benedetto Varchi (; 1502/15031565) was an Italian humanist, historian, and poet. Biography Born in Florence to a family that had originated at Montevarchi, he frequented the neoplatonic academy that Bernardo Rucellai organized in his garden, the ...

also dedicated sonnets to him.

Life

He was born in San Polo di Piave to the Venetian patricians Bertucci Gabrielli and Diana Pizzamano. His father's family originated in

Gubbio Gubbio () is an Italian town and ''comune'' in the far northeastern part of the Italian province of Perugia (Umbria). It is located on the lowest slope of Mt. Ingino, a small mountain of the Apennine Mountains, Apennines. History Prehistory The ol ...

and one of its branches had settled in the Venetian Lagoon at an unknown date. Trifone was a contemporary and friend of

Pietro Bembo Pietro Bembo, (; 20 May 1470 – 18 January 1547) was a Venetian scholar, poet, and literary theory, literary theorist who also was a member of the Knights Hospitaller and a cardinal of the Catholic Church. As an intellectual of the Italian Re ...

since their teenage years, their friendship lasting right up until Bembo's death in 1547. Carol Kidwell, ''Pietro Bembo: Lover, Linguist, Cardinal'', McGill-Queen's University Press, 2004. In his youth he took some administrative roles in the

Venetian Republic The Republic of Venice, officially the Most Serene Republic of Venice and traditionally known as La Serenissima, was a sovereign state and Maritime republics, maritime republic with its capital in Venice. Founded, according to tradition, in 697 ...

, but soon resolved to become a clergyman and pursue an ecclesiastical career. His great authority, moral rectitude and cultural interests all meant he was offered prestigious roles such as

Bishop of Treviso The Diocese of Treviso () is Latin Church ecclesiastical territory or diocese of the Catholic Church in the Veneto, Italy. It is a suffragan diocese in the ecclesiastical province of the metropolitan Patriarchate of Venice. History Treviso pr ...

and

Patriarch of Venice The Patriarch of Venice (; ) is the ordinary of the Patriarchate of Venice. The bishop is one of only four patriarchs in the Latin Rite of the Catholic Church. The other three are the Patriarch of Lisbon, the Patriarch of the East Indies an ...

, which he always refused, preferring a sober and contemplative life. When offered the Patriarchate by the

Venetian Senate The Senate (), formally the ''Consiglio dei Pregadi'' or ''Rogati'' (, ), was the main deliberative and legislative body of the Republic of Venice. Establishment The Venetian Senate was founded in 1229, or less likely shortly before that date. ...

he replied "I thank the most illustrious Senate, both those who wanted me and those who did not - the former because they believed I would do good, the latter because they did me good". Several authors, ''Nouvelle biographie générale depuis les temps les plus reculés jusqu'à nos jours'', Paris, Firmin Didot Frères, Fils et Compagnie, 1857. Gaspara stampa1738

His wealth allowed him to spend his whole life on rural estates in the areas around

Bassano del Grappa Bassano del Grappa ( or ''Bassan'', ) is a city and ''comune'', in the Province of Vicenza, Vicenza province, in the region of Veneto, in northern Italy. It bounds the communes of Cassola, Marostica, Solagna, Pove del Grappa, Romano d'Ezzelino, Va ...

and

Padua Padua ( ) is a city and ''comune'' (municipality) in Veneto, northern Italy, and the capital of the province of Padua. The city lies on the banks of the river Bacchiglione, west of Venice and southeast of Vicenza, and has a population of 20 ...

, including the villa dei Ronchi, villa del Tergolino and his garden on

Murano Murano is a series of islands linked by bridges in the Venetian Lagoon, northern Italy. It lies about north of Venice and measures about across with a population of just over 5,000 (2004 figures). It is famous for its glass making. It was o ...

, where he hosted a salon for intellectuals and humanists. Surrounded by his friends and students, Trifone read Latin, ancient Greek, Italian and European authors, discussed science and philosophy and invited others to debate and discuss ideas. He was granted special dispensation from the papal curia in 1515 thanks to Bembo allowed him to break his ordination vow not to read "pagan" (i.e. secular) books. Many came to him for advice and teaching, from young students to noted intellectuals and humanists such as Bembo himself,

Sperone Speroni Sperone Speroni degli Alvarotti (1500–1588) was an Italian Renaissance Humanism, humanist, scholar and dramatist. He was one of the central members of Padua's literary academy ''Accademia degli Infiammati'' and wrote on both moral and literary ...

, Francesco Sansovino, Monsignor Della Casa, Giovanni Borgherini,

, Bernardo Tasso,

Gaspara Stampa Gaspara Stampa (; 1523 – 23 April 1554) was an Italians, Italian poet. She is considered to have been the greatest woman poet of the Italian Renaissance, and she is regarded by many as the greatest Italian woman poet of any age. Biography ...

, Vittore Soranzo,

Pietro Aretino Pietro Aretino (, ; 19 or 20 April 1492 – 21 October 1556) was an Italian author, playwright, poet, satire, satirist and blackmailer, who wielded influence on contemporary art and politics. He was one of the most influential writers of his ti ...

, Giulio Camillo Delminio,

and Gabriel's distant relation

Gabriele de' Gabrielli Gabriele de' Gabrielli (1445–1511) (called the Cardinal of Urbino) was an Italian Roman Catholic bishop and cardinal. Biography Gabriele de' Gabrielli was a member of the Gabrielli family. He was born in Fano in 1445. During the pontificat ...

. An excellent

philologist Philology () is the study of language in oral and written historical sources. It is the intersection of textual criticism, literary criticism, history, and linguistics with strong ties to etymology. Philology is also defined as the study of ...

and linguist, he was considered one of the "masters of the language" who between the 15th and 16th centuries helped codify the spoken and written Italian language, through rigorous study of major 14th century writers, especially

Dante Dante Alighieri (; most likely baptized Durante di Alighiero degli Alighieri; – September 14, 1321), widely known mononymously as Dante, was an Italian Italian poetry, poet, writer, and philosopher. His ''Divine Comedy'', originally called ...

and

Petrarch Francis Petrarch (; 20 July 1304 – 19 July 1374; ; modern ), born Francesco di Petracco, was a scholar from Arezzo and poet of the early Italian Renaissance, as well as one of the earliest Renaissance humanism, humanists. Petrarch's redis ...

. He was known as "Venice's

Socrates Socrates (; ; – 399 BC) was a Ancient Greek philosophy, Greek philosopher from Classical Athens, Athens who is credited as the founder of Western philosophy and as among the first moral philosophers of the Ethics, ethical tradition ...

" since - like the ancient Greek philosopher of that name - he preferred to impart verbal lessons to his pupils and so left behind no written texts. His lessons compensated for the closure of the

University of Padua The University of Padua (, UNIPD) is an Italian public research university in Padua, Italy. It was founded in 1222 by a group of students and teachers from the University of Bologna, who previously settled in Vicenza; thus, it is the second-oldest ...

at the time of the

League of Cambrai The League of Cambrai was a military coalition against the Republic of Venice formed on 10 December 1508, by the main European powers (Holy Roman Empire, France, Aragon and their allies), to maintain their hegemony over the Italian Peninsula. Th ...

. A modest man, he did not want to publish anything in his own name and refused all titles except that of Messere. He held riches and honours in contempt and always kept his manners and clothing simple. He died in Venice on the night of 19–20 October 1549, "more from fasting than from fever" according to

. He was buried in the city at Santa Maria Celeste. In 1581

Vincenzo Scamozzi Vincenzo Scamozzi (2 September 1548 – 7 August 1616) was an Italians, Italian architect and a writer on architecture, active mainly in Vicenza and Republic of Venice area in the second half of the 16th century. He was perhaps the most importan ...

was commissioned to produce a tomb monument for Gabriel, admiral Carlo Zen and doge

Lorenzo Celsi Lorenzo Celsi ( 1310 – 18 July 1365) was a Venetian statesman who served as the 58th Doge of Venice, from 16 July 1361 until his death on 18 July 1365. Biography He was the son of a rich Celsi family, and was previously noted for leading a ...

, all buried in the church. The statue of Trifone was to have been placed on the facade with an inscription ''Trifone Gabriello nuovo Socrate'' (Trifone Gabriel, the new Socrates), but the design was not realised and on the church's demolition in 1810 Gabriel's bones were dispersed in the oratory on Sant'Ariano.

Family

Trifone did not marry and had no children. However, his nephew Jacopo (or Giacomo) Gabrielli (1510-1550), his main chronicler, was particularly dear to him. Trifone was also brother to Angelo Gabrielli, who accompanied Pietro Bembo on his journey to

Messina Messina ( , ; ; ; ) is a harbour city and the capital city, capital of the Italian Metropolitan City of Messina. It is the third largest city on the island of Sicily, and the 13th largest city in Italy, with a population of 216,918 inhabitants ...

(May 1492-July 1494) as a young man. The two young men had gone to Sicily to study Greek with Costantino Lascaris and made a joint trip up

Mount Etna Mount Etna, or simply Etna ( or ; , or ; ; or ), is an active stratovolcano on the east coast of Sicily, Italy, in the Metropolitan City of Catania, between the cities of Messina, Italy, Messina and Catania. It is located above the Conve ...

. After his return to Venice and then Padua, where Angelo frequently attended the local university, Bembo wrote his first work ''De Aetna'', then published by

Aldo Manuzio Aldus Pius Manutius (; ; 6 February 1515) was an Italian printer and humanist who founded the Aldine Press. Manutius devoted the later part of his life to publishing and disseminating rare texts. His interest in and preservation of Greek manusc ...

in February

1496 Year 1496 ( MCDXCVI) was a leap year starting on Friday of the Julian calendar. Events January–December * February – Pietro Bembo's ''Petri Bembi de Aetna Angelum Chalabrilem liber'', a description of a journey to Mount Etna, ...

(

1495 Year 1495 ( MCDXCV) was a common year starting on Thursday of the Julian calendar. Events January–December * February – King's College, Aberdeen, predecessor of the University of Aberdeen in Scotland, is founded on the petition ...

according to the Venetian calendar). ''De Aetna'' was even dedicated to Angelo Gabrielli (its opening words are "Pietro Bembo, on Etna, to Angelo Gabriel, a book") and his edition was created by

Francesco Griffo Francesco Griffo (1450–1518), also called Francesco da Bologna, was a fifteenth-century Italian punchcutter. He worked for Aldus Manutius, designing the printer's more important humanist typefaces, including the first italic type. He cut Roman, ...

and used for the first time a tondo showing Bembo.

Works

Trifone's varied interests and refusal to write down his own ideas means it is complex to examine them. They were published by his disciples as dialogues between Trifone and other intellectuals. Philology and linguistics were central and a number of comments on Dante's ''

Divine Comedy The ''Divine Comedy'' (, ) is an Italian narrative poetry, narrative poem by Dante Alighieri, begun and completed around 1321, shortly before the author's death. It is widely considered the pre-eminent work in Italian literature and one of ...

'' are attributed to him, such as "Words said by Trifone Gabriello on Dante's art in his poem", reported in various contemporary and later literary works, and "Annotations made by Monsignor Trifone in Bassano" discovered by Luigi Maria Rezzi in the Biblioteca Barberiniana in 1826. Trifone's nephew Jacopo wrote two linguistic works, ''Instituzioni della grammatica volgare'' and ''Regole grammaticali'', both dialogues between the author and Trifone. Bernardino Partenio's "Dell'imitazione poetica" laid out Trifone's stylistic ideas, this time as a dialogue between Trifone and the humanists Gian Giorgio Trissino and Paolo Manuzio (son of the famous publisher

). It investigates the merits and limits of literary imitation, a principle whose authority was gradually diminishing under interrogation from Renaissance authors. Trifone's respect for and knowledge of Petrarch was vast, proving a major influence on Bembo's codification of that poet's work. Bembo famously sent his "Prose nelle quali si ragiona della volgar lingua" to Trifone in 1525 for corrections and editing and mentioned Trifone in various passages of the same work.Lino Pertile
TRIFONE GABRIELE'S COMMENTARY ON DANTE AND BEMBO'S PROSE DELLA VOLGAR LINGUA
in ''Italian Studies'', Volume 40, 1985 - Issue 1, pages 17-30 Bembo and Trifone were also central characters in Bernardino Daniello's "Della poetica", another fundamental work of Petrarchism. Trifone is also recorded in several codices now at Milan's Biblioteca ambrosiana as commenting on Cicero's ''De officiis'' and ''Scipio's Dream''. These comments' attribution is uncertain, but they seem to be various pupils' transcriptions of Trifone's lessons. Trifone also studied science, particularly astronomy, as expounded in his nephew Jacopo's 1545 treatise "Dialogo […] nel quale de la sphera, et de gli orti et occasi de le stelle, minutamente si ragiona" and in "Sferetta", an appendix to Giason Denores's 1582 ''Tavole del mondo e della sfera''. These two treatises merge philosophy, theology, astrology and astronomy, still influenced by esoteric Renaissance thought but also based on scientific observations. Trifone was also interested in politics, with his thought in that area expounded in Donato Giannotti's 1540 ''Della repubblica de' Viniziani'', an imagined dialogue between Trifone and his favourite disciple Giovanni Borgherini in Bembo's house, expounding the Venetian Republic's superiority over ancient, medieval and Renaissance political models. A number of sonnets by Trifone have also been recorded, including one on Bembo's death. Giovanni Da Pozzo, ''Il Cinquecento'', in ''Storia letteraria d'Italia'', Piccin Nuova Libraria-Casa Editrice Francesco Vallardi, 2006.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Gabriel, Trifone Italian Renaissance humanists People from the Province of Treviso 1470 births 1549 deaths