The Last Will and Testament of Silvestro, son of Tano Pantaleoni of Florence, witnessed by Pietro Alighieri, son of Dante Alighieri, in Latin, large document on vellum [Italy (Verona), 11 April 1342]

a document, 420mm. by 805mm., 93 lines with a 4-line notarial drawing at beginning plus a 4-line notarial attestation including a 2-line notarial mark at foot, on a large single piece of sheepskin vellum in its natural animal-shape, folded vertically and three times horizontally with the neck-shaped end serving as a flap

Last offered in our rooms, 23 June 1992, lot 49.

This is the last will of Silvestro, son of Tano Pantaleoni, a wealthy citizen of Verona, and records bequests in favour of churches and convents of Verona and its vicinity. What sets it apart from other similar documents is its principal witness, Pietro Alighieri (d.1364), a poet in his own right, but best known as the son of the great poet Dante Alighieri (c.1265-1321), who wrote important commentaries on his father’s works in 1340 and was the subject of a laudatory Latin poem by Petrach. As a child he followed his father into exile in Verona, and having become something of a literary celebrity there, remained in the town after his father’s death, finally holding office as a judge. His activities there are attested by about only 40 extant records. In the present document, he is mentioned in the first line as "domini dantis aligerii qui fuit de florentia habitatore verone", and as the will was drawn up in Silvestro’s own house, Pietro would appear to have been a close friend of his. Silvestro bequeathed his body to be buried in the church of San Tommaso, and gave considerable sums of money to the prelate of San Quiriaco, the Dominicans of the town, the convent of Santa Maria de la Scala, the brothers of San Gabriele of Verona, the Eremitic friars, the congregation of San Pietro in the castle of Verona and to communities in Florence. He made extensive provision for funeral Masses to be sung after his death in many different churches, and for regular gifts of money to the poor, together with extensive bequests to individual members of his family.