Re-interpreting and re-visualising Petrarch’s poetry

Details

This project explores the textual transmission and cultural influence of Petrarch’s poetry across different literary traditions and languages, integrating computational methods to enhance traditional philological and literary analysis. As one of the most influential poetic works of pre-modern literature, the Rerum vulgarium fragmenta (canzoniere) had a widespread impact on cultural and literary traditions beyond the Italian peninsula, both in terms of themes and poetic genres (e.g the Petrarchan sonnet). This project examines the dissemination of Petrarch’s poetry from manuscripts and early printed editions, to translations and adaptations, investigating how his work was interpreted, reshaped, transmitted and re-used across linguistic and cultural boundaries. By incorporating computational tools—such as (but not limited to) stylometry, text mining, network analysis, or digital manuscript collation—this research aims to uncover patterns of textual variation, intertextual connections, and the broader diffusion of Petrarchan poetics on a global scale. 

Successful candidates will have an interest and background in applying digital methodologies to humanities research questions, in Petrarch’s poetics from a textual, material and/or visual point of view, and in the transmission of Petrarch and Petrarchism(s) in local and global cultural contexts and literary traditions.  

About the supervisor

Isabella is a Lecturer in Digital Humanities in the Digital Humanities Institute (DHI), with a particular research focus on the intersection between digital philology and digital editing, text and data analysis, cultural analytics, digital archives, mediaeval and early modern studies, mercantile and transcultural mediaeval cultures. To find out more about Isabella's research interests and publications, please visit her University staff profile. 

We would advise that you get in touch with Isabella directly (via i.magni@sheffield.ac.uk) to outline your proposed research proposal. This will allow us to ensure that your application is relevant to the DHI, and also that we have suitable expertise to supervise your project. This is the first step in the application process. 

About the Digital Humanities Institute (DHI)

Established in 1994, the DHI’s mission is to support the innovative use of technology and computation within arts, humanities and heritage research as both a method of inquiry and a means of dissemination. Digital culture is everywhere, and it is driven by cultural data.

We collaborate with a wide range of academic and research colleagues, as well as professionals in the heritage, culture and information industries, across the UK and internationally on funded projects with a computational component or digital output. Since the DHI was established, we have delivered over 120 externally funded research projects, collaborated with more than 125 external partners, and received grants from 39 funders.

Our expertise include database development, computational ontologies, natural language processing, computational linguistics, data visualisation and 3D, user-centred design and mobile apps.

In addition to the digital expertise within our institute, you will have access to our diverse range of research expertise across the Faculty of Arts and Humanities, allowing you to explore your research interests in depth, collaborate with a wide range of researchers and gain insight from different perspectives. 

To find out more about the DHI’s research, please visit our DHI research website. 

As a student you will also be part of our supportive research community in the School of History, Philosophy and Digital Humanities. You can find out more about our School and research culture on our School website.