The Eugene Grant Research Program on Jewish History and Culture in Early Modern Europe

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MISSION

The mission of the Eugene Grant Research Program on Jewish History and Culture in Early Modern Europe (hereafter “EGRP”) is:

  • to raise awareness among academic and non-academic audiences of the great potential of unpublished and unknown documents on Jewish culture in the Medici Granducal Archive;
  • to play a significant role in the field of early modern Jewish-Italian studies in Europe and the United States.

 

In order to achieve these goals, the EGRP Director and Senior Researcher will supervise and be responsible for the following activities:
 

  • mining the vast documentary reservoir of the Medici Granducal Archive for information on Jewish culture and history in early modern Europe;
  • engaging in the dissemination of this unpublished and unknown material through BIA;
  • publishing scholarly research based on these findings in peer-reviewed journals and monographs;
  • presenting quality research based on these findings at academic conferences and university lectures
  • creating partnerships with academic institutions in Italy, Israel and the United States that share similar academic trajectories;
  • promoting internship programs for qualified undergraduate students.

 

STAFF

Director: Piergabriele Mancuso     

Senior Researcher: Marta Caroscio    

Interns: Lior Rozen                                                                                                                                          

 

 

A Jewish actor is honored

Submitted by admin on Mon, 03/09/2009 - 13:13
Mediceo del Principato 303, fol. 99
Sender: 
Cosimo II de’ Medici
Recipient: 
Simone Basileo
March 10, 1610

The bearer of the present document, the Jew Simone Basileo from Mantua, has demonstrated his talent and his diligence to us while performing some plays.

“Patente a Simone Basileo Hebreo, li 2 di; Havendoci Simone Basileo Hebreo Mantovano, ostensore della presente, rappresentataci la sua molta virtù, et industria nel recitare alcune Commedie, ci contentiamo, et vogliamo, che a Beneplacito nostro possa andare, et stare, et recitare commedie in qualsivoglia Città, et luogo de nostri Stati, et inoltre non portare egli, et suo Compagno qualsivoglia Contrasegno nel cappello o in altro luogo senza lor pregiudizio, o molestia alcuna di qualsivoglia Ministro, anzi gli usino abilità, et cortesia, meritandole per la sua scienza; Dati in Firenze.”