Marsilio Ficino (1433-99) directed the Platonic Academy in
Florence, and it was the work of this Academy that gave the
Renaissance in the 15th century its impulse and direction. During
his childhood Ficino was selected by Cosimo de' Medici for an
education in the humanities. Later Cosimo directed him to learn
Greek and then to translate all the works of Plato into Latin. This
enormous task he completed in about five years. He then wrote two
important books, "The Platonic Theology" and "The Christian
Religion", showing how the Christian religion and Platonic
philosophy were proclaiming the same message. The extraordinary
influence the Platonic Academy came to exercise over the age arose
from the fact that its leading spirits were already seeking fresh
inspiration from the ideals of the civilizations of Greece and Rome
and especially from the literary and philosophical sources of those
ideals. Florence was the cultural and artistic centre of Europe at
the time and leading men in so many fields were drawn to the
Academy: Lorenzo de'Medici (Florence's ruler), Alberti (the
architect) and Poliziano (the poet). Moreover Ficino bound together
an enormous circle of correspondents throughout Europe, from the
Pope in Rome to John Colet in London, from Reuchlin in Germany to
de Ganay in France. Published during his lifetime, "The Letters"
have not previously been translated into English. Following the
Pazzi Conspiracy of 1478, Florence was at war with both the Pope
(Sixtus IV) and King Ferdinand of Naples. Prompted by the appalling
conditions under which Florence suffered as a result of the war,
Ficino wrote eloquent letters to the three main protagonists. In
his three letters to Sixtus, who was the main architect of the war,
Ficino states in magnificent terms the true work of the Pope - to
fish in the "deep sea of humanity", as did the Apostles. King
Ferdinand of Naples spent most of his life in intrigue, not only
against other states, but also against his own barons. Yet, Ficino
addresses him in the words of his father, the admirable King
Alfonso. This extraordinary letter, written in the form of a
prophesy, speaks of his son's destiny on Earth. "In peace alone a
splendid victory awaits you..., in victory, tranquility; in
tranquility, a reverence and worship of Minerva" (wisdom).
Negotiations for peace were in fact begun about five months later.
In his letter to Lorenzo de 'Medici, Ficino presented, with
dramatic clarity, the two sides of Lorenzo's nature. The letter may
have prompted Lorenzo's bold visit to King Ferdinand's court and
the ensuing negotiations for peace. In insisting on the reality of
unity and peace in the face of war and division, Ficino uses a
number of analogies. He speaks in at least two letters of all the
colours emerging from simple white light, just as all the variety
of the universe issues from one consciousness. "For the Sun, to be
is to shine, to shine is to see, and to illuminate is to create all
that is its own and to sustain what it has created."
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