orig. Angelo Poliziano or Angelo Ambrogini
born July 14, 1454, Montepulciano, Tuscany
died Sept. 28/29, 1494, Florence
Italian poet and humanist.
He demonstrated his poetic abilities early and became a friend and protégé of Lorenzo de' Medici . One of the foremost classical scholars of the Renaissance, he produced between 1473 and 1478 Latin and Greek verses that are among the best examples of humanist poetry. He was also, with Lorenzo, a leader in the revaluation of literature in Italian. His vernacular works include Stanzas Begun for the Tournament of the Magnificent Giuliano de' Medici (1475–78), a masterpiece in ottava rima , and the drama Orfeo (1480).