Leon Battista Alberti on <em>Virtù</em> and <em>Fortuna</em>

Abstract

LEON BATTISTA ALBERTI ON VIRTU ANB FORTUNA MARKG.HENNINGER In writing the first Italian grammar, Leon Battista Alberti (1404- illustrateci the similarities between Latin and Italian based on the theory of the latter evolving from the former. In accomplishing this, and in writing many of his own works in Italian, he was a key to Latin. His figure in elevating the vernacular accomplishments better e.g., a in fiom its subservience architecture, both in theory and practice, are known, as, to a lesser extent, are his contributions to painting, mathematically based theory of perspective and insights into composition and content that would influence the course of renais- sance painting. He found time to devote his considerable attention to satire, sculpture, literature, the theory of education, map-making, mathematical games, and even a fool-proof code for papal messages! As other renaissance men of letters, Alberti was concerned with the problem of virfu and fortuna. To what extent are our lives the result of our own efforts and desires, of our own moral qualities (virtu), and to what extent are they determined by factors outside our control by birth, or in Alberti's case by illegitimacy, education, naturai his disasters, disease — in short, hy fortuna? As Alberti moved from manhood to young stu- dent days to early on this middle age and into old age, his views problem seem to have changed. At least different emphases