L’immagine del mercante modello in Il libro dell’arte di mercatura di Benedetto Cotrugli Paulina Piotrowicz
Picture of Model Merchant in Benedetto Cotrugli’s Il libro dell’arte di mercatura

Summary/Abstract: Benedetto Cotrugli’s work Il libro dell’arte di mercatura puts in the center of interest the merchant, who becomes an emblematic figure for the rising social group seeking to establish their own identity and position in the society. In the merchant, Cotrugli represents a paragon of moral virtue to be followed. Thus, Il libro dell’arte di mercatura presents yet another voice in the discussion on the necessity to impose models of moral conduct upon the forming society. Cotrugli’s merchant displays flawless morality in his professional and private life, thus establishing a position for the profession itself. The paper presents a three-fold analysis of Cotrugli’s work: on the first level, the model of the merchant’s professional activity, and private, family life is scrutinized. Secondly, the paper investigates Cotrugli’s prescriptions as to merchandise as a life style and mentality, and thirdly, the connection between the first two is examined.

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