Paride da Ceresara


Paride da Ceresara was an Italian humanist, poet, alchemist and astrologer.

Life

He was born in Ceresara and was descended from the Ceresara, a noble family. He was in the service of Isabella d'Este in Mantua and came up with the mythological, allegorical and celebratory themes for at least two of the paintings in her noted studiolo and perhaps the whole cycle. Paride collected and translated classical works such as Plautus' Aulularia and also studied Hebrew. He also wrote a number of erotic sonnets, signed with his pseudonyms Patrizio Tricasso and Patrizio Tricasso da Ceresara.
He was hosted at the court of Aloisio Gonzaga in Castel Goffredo as an astrologer. He was summoned to Mantua in 1532 by Federico II Gonzaga to become podestà of the city, where Paride built the Palazzo del Diavolo on the corso Predella as his personal residence. He died in Mantua.

Works