Orationes Thucydidis

Giovanni Della Casa (1503-1556), humanist, ecclesiastic, diplomat, and writer. Della Casa studied in Bologna, Florence, and Padua, where he received a humanist education steeped in classical rhetoric and moral philosophy. He entered the ecclesiastical career under the patronage of the Farnese family and was appointed Archbishop of Benevento in 1544. That same year, Pope Paul III sent him as nuncio to Venice, where he played a central role in introducing the Roman Inquisition. His tenure in Venice was also marked by intense literary activity and patronage of the arts. After the election of Pope Julius III, Della Casa fell into disfavor and withdrew to Nervesa, near Treviso, where he composed much of his most influential work. His Galateo ovvero de’ costumi, published posthumously in 1558, is a concise guide to courteous behavior in conversation, dress, and manners, reflecting both Renaissance civility and deep classical learning. In addition to Galateo, Della Casa wrote Latin and vernacular poetry (Rime), moral treatises, orations, and epistolary prose. His literary style, noted for its balance between clarity and elegance, helped shape the late Cinquecento canon. Treccani