BRANDOLINI, AURELIO. - Augustinian humanist and theologian, b. in Firenze in the second quarter of the 15th century, d. in Roma in 1497. Although almost blind from birth, he devoted himself to his studies, chiefly humanistic ones, with incredible diligence and success. From his early youth he endured serious material and
spiritual hardships, which he bore with constancy. Endowed with a prodigious memory and a rich and ornate eloquence, he was chosen by Mattia Corvino, king of Hungary, as his intimate counsellor and orator, as well as teacher of rhetoric in his kingdom. In 1490, having returned to Italy following the death of that prince, he took the habit of the Augustinian Hermits. He was also tutor to Giovanni Maria del Monte (later Pope Giulio III), a highly acclaimed preacher at the most celebrated courts and cities of Italy, a prolific writer, and an esteemed Latin poet.
Principal works: De humanae vitae conditione et tollenda corporis aegritudine dialogus (Basilea 1498, 1540, 1541, 1543; Parigi 1543; Lengburg [translated into German] 1622); De laudibus Sixti IV Pont. Max. elegiarum libri 2, cod. Vat. lat. 5008 and Vat. Urbin. lat. 739; De ratione scribendi libri 3 (Basilea 1498; 1543, 1549 and 1565; Francoforte 1568; Colonia 1573; Basilea 1585; Roma 1735); Christiana paradoxa (Basilea 1498; Roma 1531; Basilea 1543 and 1545; Colonia 1573; Roma 1581); Oratio de virtutibus Iesu Christi nobis in eius passione ostensis (Roma 1596; Colonia 1645; Roma 1735; and Venezia 1596; Roma 1767 [the last two eds. in Italian]); In sacram hebraeorum historiam libri XXI (v. cod. Vat. Ottobon. R. 6, 35).