Un brieve trattato dell’eccellentia delle donne and Una brieve essortatione a gli huomini: further analysis of the two 16th century pieces

Abstract

In 1545, a volume containing two short pieces was published by Damiano de Turlini’s printing house in Brescia: the first was entitled Un brieve trattato dell'eccellentia delle donne and was composed by the Lombard philosopher Vincenzo Maggi; the second, anonymous, had the title: Una brieve essortatione a gli huomini. Vincenzo Maggi, with this short and simple treatise –as he calls it–, refutes the usual contempt for the female gender prevalent in his time, driven by the need to find the truth. He does so without discrediting either the opposing theses or men; on the contrary, he has the intention of convincing them to appreciate women even more and recognise their superior merits. The anonymous author, on the other hand, intends to refute the Lombard philosopher's assertions by urging men to take action, and declares himself intimidated by the idea that women might take over. It is our intention to analyse these two works by presenting their arguments and the ways in which they are put forward, as well as to offer a brief biography of Vincenzo Maggi and to address the issue of the authorship of the second piece.