author
Bernardo, da Bibbiena Dovizi
1470–1520
A sharp Renaissance courtier who moved easily between politics, the church, and the arts, he is remembered both as a cardinal and as the author of one of the early great comedies of Italian literature. His life connects the literary energy of the Renaissance with the power struggles of papal Rome.
1 Audiobook
La Calandria Commedie del Cinquecento
by Bernardo, da Bibbiena Dovizi
About the author
Born in Bibbiena in 1470, Bernardo Dovizi became a prominent figure of the Italian Renaissance as a churchman, diplomat, and writer. He was closely tied to the Medici circle and rose in influence under Pope Leo X, eventually becoming a cardinal.
He was also a man of letters. His best-known work, La Calandria, is widely remembered as an important early Renaissance comedy, admired for its lively plotting and its place in the revival of classical-style theater in Italy.
Dovizi spent much of his career at the center of papal politics, balancing literary interests with demanding public roles. He died in Rome in 1520, leaving behind a reputation shaped by both cultural ambition and political skill.