The Praise of Folly

Desiderius Erasmus is often considered a pinnacle of Renaissance humanism and represents the spread of humanism to Northern Europe. He self-identified as a citizen of an international republic of letters, and he definitely existed as a citizen of Europe rather than as a citizen of one country. He collected adages and is known as the first author to make a living only from his writings. This was greatly assisted by increased use of printing to disseminate and sell his works, as well as his status as a courtier to many European leaders. Erasmus’ The Praise of Folly insists on the follies of religious practices and depicted modern society as played out on a stage. Erasmus was highly critical of the Catholic Church, but sought to reform it from the inside rather than through an external movement like Luther’s.

Erasmus

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Holbein-erasmus.jpg

1511