Luigi Cornaro

Born into a prominent Venetian family, Luigi Cornaro was a Renaissance nobleman, patron of the arts, and writer remembered above all for his reflections on diet and longevity. Sources differ on some basic details of his early life, including his exact birth year, but they agree that he lived into old age and became famous for presenting himself as proof of the benefits of a measured life.

Cornaro's reputation rests mainly on his Discorsi della vita sobria (Discourses on the Sober Life), a series of works in which he argued that careful moderation in food and drink could preserve health and extend life. He wrote in a personal, direct way, describing how he changed his habits after illness and claiming that sobriety restored his strength and peace of mind.

He was also associated with the cultural life of Padua and Venice as a supporter of architecture and the arts. Today he is remembered both as a colorful Renaissance figure and as an early, widely read voice in the long history of writing about healthy living and old age.