BENIVIENI, DOMENICO

BENIVIENI, DOMENICO. – Philosopher and theologian, born in Florence in 1460, died there on 3 December 1507. Because of his philosophical tendency, Ficino called him his “complotonicus,” and for his subtlety in theological controversies he was given the title of “Scotinus.” From about 1491 he was a canon of S. Lorenzo in Florence, where he is buried. Together with two elder brothers, Antonio and Girolamo, he was a fervent partisan of Savonarola, whom he defended in three writings. We mention: Trattato in defensione et probatione della dottrina predicata da Frate Jeronimo [Savonarola] (Florence 1496); Epistola responsiva nelle calomnie contro Savonarola (there 1497). Of a spiritual character: La scala della vita spirituale sopra il nome di Maria (there ca. 1495).