Girolamo savonarola, italian christian preacher, reformer, and martyr, renowned for his clash with tyrannical rulers and a corrupt clergy. Savonarola was intellectually cultivated to a high degree. In 1497 the dominican friar girolamo savonarola perpetrated the most infamous act of cultural desecration in european history, burning artworks and books, items of. Super8mm documentary about the life of the radical renaissance friar girolamo savonarola. On february 7, 1497, the followers of dominican priest girolamo savonarola of florence, italy, gathered and burned a large quantity of objects they referred to as vanities, objects such as cosmetics, books, artwork, mirrors, fancy clothes, playing cards, and musical instruments, any objects these religious zealots thought could lead people to sin. But for botticelli, the prophet was a dark inspiration. The ideas of asceticism and renunciation which at that time had only existed in narrow monastic circles were carried to the masses by savonarola. In 1491 girolamo savonarola became prior of the dominican house of s. Search the history of over 424 billion web pages on the internet. After the ruling medici dynasty was overthrown in 1494, he was effectively the politicalas well as spiritualleader of the city of florence, and his great bonfire was the high point of his career. He was known for his prophecies of civic glory, the destruction of secular.
Two books on the life of savonarola, scourge and fire and the burning of. Nov 22, 2011 donald weinstein is professor emeritus, university of arizona. May 01, 2016 when the dominican friar girolamo savonarola arrived in the italian citystate of florence he found a culture bristling with contrasts and in moral crisis. As a writer of popular history seward might be expected to have at least produced a readable retelling of the savonarola story, but he lacks the graceful style of rachel erlangers the unarmed prophet 1988 and the zing of lauro martiness fire in the city 2006. A brief history of book burning, from the printing press to internet archives as long as there have been books, people have burned thembut over the years, the motivation has changed. Savonarola burned art works from 12011500 church history timeline. The bonfire of the vanities was orchestrated by the charismatic, passionate savonarola, who was known for his apocalyptic sermons. What made this one the bonfire, with a capital b, is the historical position it occupied. Girolamo savonarola 21 september 1452 23 may 1498, was an italian dominican priest and leader of florence from 1494 until his execution in 1498. He vehemently preached against the moral corruption of much of the clergy at the time, and his main opponent was rodrigo borgia. Here is a selective timeline of book bannings, burnings, and other censorship activities. He also lacks martiness sure knowledge of his subject.
His stand against the pope and the medici family had him excommunicated, arrested, tortured and finally martyred by burning at the stake in florence italy in 1496 at 44 years. He was known for his book burning, destruction of what he considered immoral art, and hostility to the renaissance. A fanatical monk inspired 15thcentury italians to burn their. The phrase usually refers to the bonfire of 7 february 1497, when supporters of dominican friar girolamo savonarola collected and burned thousands of objects such as cosmetics, art, and books in florence, italy on the shrove tuesday festival. Girolamo savonarola holds bonfires of the vanities 149798 the florence book burnings of the fanatical priest savonarola were so notorious, theyve made bonfire of the vanities a common cultural reference tom wolfe titled a novel after the event.
Best remembered for his burning of the vanities the destruction of profane art in public bonfires savonarola has often been caricatured as a hellfire fanatic. Girolamo savonarola, dominican friar and puritan fanatic, became moral dictator of the city of florence when the medici were. Whether youre looking to buy one specific piece or wanting to fill an entire container, our personal shopping. A dominican priest by the name of girolamo savonarola declared a long laundry list of items immoral and sinful. Some of the most controversial books in history are now regarded as classics. Evolution of visual art for details of art styles, see. While prostitutes were beaten and gay men were burned alive on his orders, savonarolas campaign centered on the burning of books, paintings, sculptures. Born on 21 september 1452, the very same year that leonardo da vinci was born, girolamo savonarola. Intellectually very talented he devoted himself to his studies, and especially to philosophy and medicine.
On this day in 1497, the bonfire of the vanities took place in florence, italy. Full text of the history of girolamo savonarola and of his. The phrase usually refers to the bonfire of 7 february 1497, when supporters of dominican friar girolamo savonarola collected and burned thousands of objects such as cosmetics, art, and books in florence. His public persona tended to conform to that image, although privately savonarola was widely reported to be mild and patient with people. Savonarola is famous for burning books, and for the destruction of what he considered immoral art. Ideas in books that were deemed candidates for book burning were associated with blasphemy, heresy, or were against the mainstream religion of a particular nation or culture. Savonarola and the bonfires of the vanities youtube. Introduction the paper will focus on religious book burning as a means to eradicate ideas. Savonarola burned art works 12011500 church history. Accused of hypocrisy by his foes, savonarola by all appearances was a genuine and deeply committed christian. He is the author of several books on italian history and is a world authority on savonarola and the italian renaissance.
Summary in the 1490s, girolamo savonarola, a visionary friar, dominated renaissance florence, terrifying the city with his uncannily accurate prophecies. Richard cavendish published in history today volume 48 issue 5 may 1998. The papal authorities took a leaf out of savonarolas book on censorship. Savonarola s undoing was his denunciation and attempt to depose of the borgia alexander vi, one of the most corrupt popes in history. Savonarola was an ugly, violent man, prone to burning works of art. His speechmaking had developed, and thanks to a powerful charisma, a good way with words, and a very effective grasp of how to manipulate his audience, savonarola became very popular very quickly. Had he succeeded, the reformation might have been avoided. With him were burned all his writings, sermons, essays. But destroying art, burning books, and censoring speech always do. Girolamo savonarola simple english wikipedia, the free. In 15th century florence, italy, the citizens burned art and items that were deemed. This volume tells the story of girolamo savonarola, the. A brief history of book burning, from the printing press. But in the end alexander turned the florentines against savonarola and destroyed him.
The dominican reformer came from an old family of ferrara. Mar 20, 2018 in 1497 the dominican friar girolamo savonarola perpetrated the most infamous act of cultural desecration in european history, burning artworks and books, items of clothing, perfumes and cosmetics. Savonarola especially loathed paintings that made the madonna look like a whore. The bible and works by shakespeare are among those that have been banned over the past two thousand years. Savonarola burned art works 12011500 church history timeline. A fanatical monk inspired 15thcentury italians to burn their clothes, makeup and art. The terrorism exercised by savonarola and his adherents grew daily more and more intolerable. He called on the florentines to burn all books, paintings, carvings and any other luxury that drew their hearts away from the deeper things of god. Having made many powerful enemies, the dominican friar and puritan fanatic girolamo savonarola was executed on 23 may 1498.
Savonarola and the struggle for the soul of renaissance florence. History often portrays savonarola as a harsh, uncompromising puritan and a relentless killjoy. After the overthrow of the medici in 1494, savonarola was the sole leader of florence, setting up a democratic republic. Beginning about 1490, savonarola began to preach with. Savonarolas rise and fall is history that deserves to be remembered. The renaissance preacher tells the story of a man who believed so wholeheartedly in god and the message that he was giving, that he gave his life for it. Learn about historical christian events within church history. A fanatical monk inspired 15thcentury italians to burn. The renaissance began here and the city was bustling with a renewal of classical literature, philosophy, and art, but in the midst of glorious prosperity there was a profound lack of.
Dirty pictures, gambling tables, books and art went up in smoke. Girolamo savonarola was a dominican friar and a religious extremist. He was known for his prophecies of civic glory, the destruction of secular art and culture, and his calls for christian renewal. Girolamo savonarola september 21, 1452 may 23, 1498 was an italian dominican priest and leader of florence from 1494 until his execution in 1498. Jan 28, 2018 born on 21 september 1452, the very same year that leonardo da vinci was born, girolamo savonarola. He denounced clerical corruption, despotic rule and the exploitation of the poor. Girolamo savonarola was an italian dominican friar and preacher active in renaissance florence. Fr girolamo savonarola 14521496 find a grave memorial. In addition to immoral books, the bonfire was meant to destroy other luxuries that might lead people into perceived sin art, fancy. Full text of the history of girolamo savonarola and of his times.
The prophet declared that no one could be a good christian who did not believe. Just as the book of revelation can be understood as a narrative of resistance that promised justice to oppressed christians in its original context, so too did savonarola look to the book of revelation to reassure himself that the backwardness and immorality he perceived in the church and the republic would be rectified by god. Origins and history of the iniquitous bonfire of the vanities and the lasting consequences on art history. The fiery dominican monk girolamo savonarola had a considerable effect on renaissance art in florence in the late quattrocento and early cinquecento, much of which he condemned as profane. He took a severe and critical stand against the church, its clergy and the renaissance in general. The book is an introduction to the life and times of. The sparrows features we examine the real world historical context for jonathan pryces high sparrow and his flock from hbos game of thrones.