, a man of great learning in the fifteenth century, was born at
, a man of great learning in
the fifteenth century, was born at Torn sul lago, in 1445.
Such was his early reputation, that at the age of twentyfour he was invited by Paul II. to take upon him the office
of public lecturer on the belles-lettres at Rome; and Sixtus
IV. appointed him apostolic secretary. After a short life
of incessant study and literary warfare, he was cut off by a.
fever in 1477, when only thirty-two years of age. To him
is attributed the praise of having first pointed out and exemplified the true method of elucidating ancient authors,
by combining with verbal criticism, the lights of antiquity
and general erudition. The literary reputation of Calderinus procured him many rivals during his life-time, as
George Merula, Aurispa, Aug. Sabinus, Nic. Perottus,
Trapezuntius, &c. and it is certain that Politian draws his
character with much more blame than praise. Of his talents, indeed, his application and skill in Latin, Politian
speaks in handsome terms, and acknowledges that his proficiency in Greek was not inconsiderable; but adds, that
he was so vain of his own talents, and so tenacious of any
opinion he had once adopted, as to adhere to it in open
defiance of conviction and truth. The style of his compositions is haughty, contemptuous, and overbearing; he
cavils on every trifling pretext, and attacks all without
discrimination. These were propensities which involved
him in numberless disputes with the learned of the day.
Yet while he was the object of undisguised hatred to persons of this description, such was his authority in letters,
that even in his youth he carried away the palm of celebrity from all the Roman professors. Politian adds more
to the same purpose, which may be seen in our authority
on the other hand, the learned world are under unquestionable obligations to Calderinus, and probably, had he lived
longer, he would have corrected that vivacity of passion
which involved him so often with his contemporaries.
Among his works, is an ample Commentary on Martial,
Venice, 1474, fol.; another on Juvenal, ibid. 1475, fol.
The edition of Virgil of 1492, has some notes of his; and
he commented on Ovid’s Metamorphoses, Persius, and Catullus. His notes “In Ibin
” were published at Venice,
Sylvae
” of Statins, Brixiae,