Dead Souls: Leon Battista Alberti's Anatomy of Humanism

This article examines the meaning of death in a number of Alberti’s writings, in particular the Defunctus ( The Deceased ). While Eugenio Garin has discussed this theme in Alberti’s work, this article presents a different interpretation. The dead souls of the Defunctus , in their afterlife, provide...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:MLN 2012-01, Vol.127 (1), p.108-123
Main Author: Kircher, Timothy
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Conversation
Death
Eulogies
Families & family life
Fathers
Humanism
Irony
Learning
Legacies
Philosophers
REGULAR ISSUE
Renaissance art
Sons
Soul
Theater
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Summary:This article examines the meaning of death in a number of Alberti’s writings, in particular the Defunctus ( The Deceased ). While Eugenio Garin has discussed this theme in Alberti’s work, this article presents a different interpretation. The dead souls of the Defunctus , in their afterlife, provide Alberti with a means to critique the humanist revival of the ancients. Despite their immortality and erudition, these souls remain prone to self-deception. Alberti’s portrayals suggest that the contemporary studia humanitatis often impeded self-awareness and tranquility of mind. As such his thought offers a significant contribution to quattrocento humanism.
ISSN:0026-7910
1080-6598
1080-6598
DOI:10.1353/mln.2012.0053