Abstract
In the early phase of the Hungarian Renaissance, high priests appear to have been more perceptive to the innovations of the new style of art, the Renaissance, than the aristocrats. They were the first to file up behind King Matthias Corvinus, who introduced the Renaissance art to Hungary. The main reason certainly is the humanist education of the high priests, as well as their studies mostly at Italian universities where beside acquiring up-to-date knowledge, they gained first-hand experience of the new trends and achievements of Italian art1. It was at the Council of Constance (1414-18) that the noted humanist Pier Paolo Vergerio (1370–1444) entered the service of King Sigismund. Earlier employed by the Carrara family of Padua, he moved to Buda and lived there until his death2. He became friends with Janos (Zrednai) Vitez (1408–1472)3, a member of the high clergy and chancellor, and this friendship marks the advent of the Renaissance in Hungary. Vitez was the central figure of the beginning of Hungarian Renaissance, as the tutor of Matthias Corvinus as well. Towards the end of his life Vergerio took part in Vitez’s scholarly sessions at Varad and Buda where an international society gathered including Polish Gregorio di Sanok (Grzegorz z Sanoka), the Cypriot Filippo Podocataro, the papal legate Giuliano Cesarini, and others4. Vitez had only attended a single semester at the university of Vienna and, much as he would have liked, he could not get to an Italian university. Howev [...]
Published Version
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a call