Petrarca contemporaneo degli antichi. Tracce dalle ‘Familiari’ (lettera prefatoria e libro XXIV)

This article illustrates the relationship Petrarch established with the ancient authors, following the clues offered by Book XXIV of the ‘Familiares’ and by the letter constituting a prohemium to the collection: what emerges is dusty papers, books saved from fire, ancient authors represented as contemporary friends, expressions and images used for Cicero or Livy now adapted for Petrarch. The contraction of the time gap, made possible by a different measuring of time, sets Petrarch on the same plan as the ancients.