BARZIZZA, GASPARINO DA

born 1360?, Barzizza, near Bergamo, Italy died 1431, Milan original name Gasparino Di Pietrobuono teacher noted for his ability to relate classical civilization to the Italy of his day. Barzizza studied grammar and rhetoric at Pavia and stayed there to teach. He moved to Venice and then to Padua, where he won fame as a teacher of science and as a humanist. He taught later at Ferrara and, from 1421, at Milan. Barzizza was known for his scholarship as well as for his teaching. His writings included works in epistolography, oratory, rhetoric, and literary and historical commentary, and he compiled a manual of Latin orthography. His Book of Letters (1470) was the first book produced by a printing press in France. His son Guimforte (c. 140663) became a noted teacher and author.