Life (c. 35 CE -- after 95 CE)

Born at Calagurris in Spain. Taught at Rome by the orator Domitius Afer. At some time returned to Spain, and recalled by Galba 68. Active as a teacher and advocate for twenty years; first rhetorician to receive a public salary. Received ornamenta consularia for educating Domitian's two great-nephews.

Works

• Institutio Oratoria (12 books) alone survives: some detail of composition in Quintilian's prefatory epistle to his publisher Trypho. Published before Domitian's death but exact dating impossible.
• De causis corruptae eloquentiae, a treatise, was published earlier.
• Two extant collections of declamations are attributed to him. Some or part of them may be genuine, but there are very good reasons for doubt, especially about the longer ones (declimationes maiores).

Bibliography

d'Alton, J. F. Roman Literary theory and criticism (London 1931)

Bonner, S. F. Roman Declamation (Liverpool, 1949)

Clark, M. L. Rhetoric at Rome (London, 1953)

Kennedy, G. 'An estimate of Quintilian,' AJPh 83 (1962) pp. 130-46.

Kennedy, G. Quintilian (New York 1969)