Guido Guinizelli

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Guido Guinizzelli (c. 1230-1240; died before 1276) was an Italian poet and 'founder' of the Dolce Stil Novo. He was the first to write in this new style of poetry writing, and thus is held to be the ipso facto founder.

At first Guinizzelli followed Guittone's style, and later the Sicilian School. Later, however, he thought of these as being too 'cold' to justly express his emotions.

The famous Florentine poet Dante Alighieri considered himself to be a disciple of Guinizzelli:

...quand' io odo nomar sé stesso il padre

mio e de li altri miei miglior che mai

rime d'amor usar dolci e leggiadre...

(Purgatorio, XXVI 97-98).

The main themes of the Dolce Stil Novo can be found in Guinizzelli's Al cor gentil rempaira sempre amore: the angelic beauty of the beloved women, the comparison of nobility to the sun and the rampant use of topoi such as cuor gentil and Amore.

Guinizzelli's poetry can be briefly described as a conciliation between divine and earthly love with deep psychological introspection. His major works are Al cor gentil rempaira sempre Amore, Voglio del ver la mia donna laudare and Vedut'ho la lucente stella Diana.