Elisa Brilli

Elisa Brilli is a Professor of Italian Studies at the University of Toronto's Department of Italian Studies since 2015. A specialist in Dante studies, her research explores the intersections of history and literature, medieval exemplary literature, and historiography. Her areas of interest include Dante, Medieval Italian Literature, Medieval Cultural History, Manuscript Studies, and Text-Image Studies.

Education:

• Ph.D. in History and Civilization/Literature, Linguistics and Philology, "La Sapienza" Rome and Ecole des Hautes Etudes en Sciences Sociales, Paris (2009)
• MA in Literature and Philosophy, "La Sapienza" Rome (2004)

Professor Brilli's research is centered on Dante Alighieri and Medieval Italian literature, with a focus on how Dante's works engage with civic memory, theological paradigms, and autobiography. She has made significant contributions to the study of medieval receptions of Augustine’s De civitate Dei and cultural history through works like her monograph Firenze e il Profeta. Her methodological approach integrates textual analysis with manuscript studies and text-image relationships, emphasizing interdisciplinary connections between literature, history, and religious studies.

Her recent publications demonstrate a cohesive scholarly trajectory examining Dante's legacy, Augustinian reception in medieval culture, and religious orders' influence on Florentine identity. These works consistently bridge literary analysis with historical context, revealing how medieval texts negotiated theological concepts and civic identity through narrative structures and visual culture.

Professor Brilli has secured competitive post-doctoral fellowships from the Swiss National Science Foundation and Maison des Sciences de l'Homme. In her current administrative roles as Director (2020-2025) and PhD Coordinator, she mentors graduate students while overseeing departmental academic initiatives and research development.