Humanism and Creativity in the Renaissance

Book excerpt: This volume comprises original contributions from 17 scholars whose work and careers Ronald Witt has touched in myriad ways. Intellectual, social, and political historians, a historian of philosophy and an art historian: specialists in various temporal and geographical regions of the Renaissance world here address specific topics reflecting some of the major themes that have woven their way through Ronald Witt’s intellectual cursus. While some essays offer fresh readings of canonical texts and explore previously unnoticed lines of filiation among them, others present “discoveries,” including a hitherto “lost” text and overlooked manuscripts that are here edited for the first time. Engagement with little-known material reflects another of Witt's distinguishing characteristics: a passion for original sources. The essays are gathered under three rubrics: (1) “Politics and the Revival of Antiquity”; (2) “Humanism, Religion, and Moral Philosophy”; and (3) “Erudition and Innovation.” Contributors include: Robert Black, Melissa Meriam Bullard, Christopher S. Celenza, Anthony F. D’Elia, Charles Fantazzi, Kenneth Gouwens, Anthony Grafton, Paul F. Grendler, James Hankins, John M. Headley, Mark Jurdjevic, Timothy Kircher, David A. Lines, Edward P. Mahoney, John Monfasani, Louise Rice, and T.C. Price Zimmerman. Publications by Ronald G. Witt: 'In the Footsteps of the Ancients': The Origins of Humanism from Lovato to Bruni, ISBN: 978 90 04 11397 8 (Paperback: 978 0 391 04202 5)