Bianco (di Santi), Blessed, of Siena

BIANCO (di Santi), Blessed, of Siena. - Mystical poet, Gesuato, one of the most remarkable figures of the movement begun by the blessed Colombini and the finest religious lyric poet of the second half of the 14th century. Born at Lanciolina (or Anciolina) in the upper Valdarno, he was also called the B. da Lanciolina. We know little of his life. In Siena, in his youth, he practiced the wool trade as a weaver, and in 1567 he was received among the Gesuati by the founder Giovanni Colombini (v.). For many years he wandered through central Italy, publicly singing his verses. He was endowed with extraordinary graces, and died after a holy life in Venice at the beginning of the 15th century. There survives from him a Laudario first published by T. Bini in 1851 and by F. Ageno in 1939.

By excessive admirers he was equated with Iacopone da Todi. If his laude are artistically inferior, they are not lacking in linguistic vigor and originality of content; after Iacopone he is the greatest Italian mystical poet. He sang the love of Jesus, of Mary Most Holy, the mysteries of the soul, especially the renunciation of all the vanities of the world. Often with paraphrases of liturgical prayers or of psalms, he does not limit himself to the play of images, like the lyric poets of the 14th and 15th centuries, but evokes living spiritual experiences. His lyric poetry therefore takes on a singular interest not only literary but theological. Particularly significant for their similarities with the poetic motifs of St. John of the Cross are the Lande XVIIIa, Ottima tenebria privami della luce, and XXa Ferito m'ha l'Amore di saetta di fuoco.

Benvenuto Matteucci