The studia humanitatis and the making of a humanist career: Marcantonio Sabellico's exploitation of humanist literary genres

Sabellico is known as the historian of Renaissance Venice, but there is much more to be understood about this ambitious humanist and his success in establishing a secure career for himself in his adopted city. This paper explores the ways in which Sabellico in the closing years of the Quattrocento took advantage of the established studia humanitatis to master a variety of its genres and disciplines. Sabellico was also a master of publicity through the new medium of the printing press, and the reader can be guided through his published works and work in progress in two important letters written in 1493 and intended for publication. The paper considers first the relation between his works and his appointments and civic duties in public employment in Udine and Vicenza, on to his twenty years in government service in Venice. Secondly it surveys the various genres that he explored, and shows how his works complied with contemporary expectations from the studia humanitatis. At the same time, the discussion reveals his own understanding of this cultural and intellectual programme. (pp. 27–38)