How did Petrarch’s discovery of Cicero’s letters in Verona affect his own writing?

In 1345, Petrarch’s discovery of Cicero’s letters to Atticus, Brutus, and Quintus in Verona was a pivotal moment for his literary career.1

This discovery allowed Petrarch to look past the surface of the great orator and perceive the man himself, which profoundly influenced his own approach to writing. Specifically, the letters inspired him to:1

• Write Epistles: He began composing his own letters addressed to the ancient authors he admired.1
• Collect His Correspondence: He was spurred to gather and organize his own scattered letters into a formal collection.1

These collections of letters became essential records of his personal development and his evolving views, marking a significant transition as he moved away from medieval traditions toward the Renaissance. By humanizing the classical figures he studied, Petrarch reinforced his commitment to the study of rhetoric and the use of language as an informing principle of the individual and society.12