Between vita activa and vita contemplativa. Epistolary Forms of otium in Early Modern Italy

In early modern Italy letters go viral: Politics and social interaction, artistic inspiration as well as spirituality and philosophy hinge upon ingenious epistolary cultures. Correspondence fashions intellectuals and networks, it constructs thoughts and schemes, it performs politics and arts, reflects existential questions and professional activities. It involves writing, diplomacy, praying, painting, composing, and other artistic forms. While being a vital activity of everyday lives epistolary communication opens up new spaces of thought, meditation and creativity. The articles of this volume examine the epistolary threads spun across early modern Italy in its entanglements of the active and the contemplative lives of their correspondents. They reveal different forms of an epistolary otium which is both a indispensable social activity as well as an essential method of contemplation.