WEEK OF ITALIAN LANGUAGE IN THE WORLD 2021
A Journey through the Centuries:
The Making of Dante Guarneriano
October 20-22, 2021
As part of the series of events celebrating Week of the Italian Language in the World, the Department of Italian Studies at the University of Toronto, in collaboration with St. Michael’s College, Massey College, and the Istituto Italiano di Cultura Toronto, presents a series of events to celebrate the father of the Italian language, Mediaeval poet and philosopher Dante Alighieri, and his groundbreaking trilogy, the Divine Comedy, in the year that marks the 700th anniversary of the passing of the “sommo poeta”.
A magnificent handmade illuminated anastatic copy of the Inferno, known as Dante Guarneriano, will travel to Toronto from the Biblioteca Guarneriana in San Daniele del Friuli, one of Italy’s oldest and most venerated public libraries, founded in 1466 by humanist Guarniero d’Artegna and enriched with the collection of Archbishop and bibliographer Giusto Fontanini in the 18th century.
The Dante Guarneriano is one of the oldest and most richly decorated Medieval examples of Dante’s Divine Comedy Inferno, dated late 14th – early 15th century. Miniatures and historiated initials are attributed to Bartolomeo di Fruosino, one of the most influential illuminators of the Florentine School. A notable miniature in the Dante Guarneriano depicts Dante in his studio (within the historiated initial “N” which marks the famous incipit of Dante’s journey through Hell: “Nel mezzo del cammin di nostra vita…”).
The copy of the Dante Guarneriano that will be displayed in Toronto has been handcrafted by the Scriptorium Foroiuliense in San Daniele, one of the most esteemed centres of Medieval calligraphy and book production in Italy. Specialized in Medieval historical scripts and manuscript production, the Scriptorium Foroiuliense – Scuola Italiana Amanuensi – has produced a dozen anastatic copies of the Dante Guarneriano, on handmade paper of 100% cotton fibres, following the traditional techniques used to create the lavishly illuminated manuscripts, including miniatures gilded with gold leaf, finely decorated illustrations, and Medieval luxury bookbinding techniques.
The handcrafted illuminated anastatic copy of the Dante Guarneriano will arrive in Toronto with a delegation of the City of San Daniele, namely Mayor Pietro Valent and the amanuenses of the Scriptorium Foroiuliense.
SCHEDULE OF EVENTS
Wednesday, October 20 | 4:30PM EDT
MASSEY DIALOGUE SERIES
Official presentation of the copy of the Dante Guarneriano
ONLINE VIA YOUTUBE | FREE EVENT
CLICK HERE TO REGISTER ON EVENTBRITE
The Italian delegation will join York University Professor Samia Tawwab, an expert in Medieval studies and manuscript culture. The event is coordinated by University of Toronto Professor and Senior Fellow at Massey College Paolo Granata, to officially present the copy of the Dante Guarneriano, exploring the making of this unique bibliographic artifact. The event will be live-streamed on YouTube at 4:30 pm EST from Massey College for the Massey Dialogues series.
THE MASSEY DIALOGUES
An online salon discussion series featuring experts and scholars from our wonderful community to be experienced and enjoyed from the comfort of one’s own home.
Thursday, October 21 | 2:00PM EDT
Calligraphy Workshop
Charbonnel Lounge | St. Michael’s College | Toronto, ON
Free Event | Registration Required
CLICK HERE TO REGISTER ON EVENTBRITE
Please note that all Covid-19 Protocols will be observed
Amanuenses of the Scriptorium Foroiuliense, specialized in Medieval historical scripts such as Gothic Textura, Uncial, Beneventan, Carolingian, will hold a series of free workshops at St. Michael’s College and Massey College open to the University of Toronto students as well as to the general public.
Friday, October 22 | 4:30PM EDT
Live virtual tour of the Opificium Librorum and Biblioteca Guarneriana in San Daniele del Friuli
CLICK HERE TO REGISTER ON EVENTBRITE
The series of events to celebrate the Dante Guarneriano will conclude with a virtual tour of the Opificium Librorum and Biblioteca Guarneriana, live from San Daniele del Friuli to explore, “in real-time”, the making of a Medieval manuscript and its century-old tradition.