A former professor at Oxford University has sadly died.

Magdalen College posted a statement today confirming that former professor John Woodhouse FBA had passed away.

In a statement, Magdalen college said: “It is with great sadness that we share the news of the death of former Magdalen fellow professor John Woodhouse FBA.

“John will be remembered as a gifted lecturer, a devoted tutor and supervisor, a prolific researcher in several fields of Italian studies and a generous and loyal friend.”

Mr Woodhouse worked for the university as part of the Faculty of Medieval and Modern Languages for almost 30 years and was also a fellow at St Cross and Pembroke.

He was the founder and chair of The Oxford Italian Association, and Fiat Serena professor of Italian from 1990 until he retired in 2001.

Mr Woodhouse’s career was prestigious, as he was made a fellow of the British Academy and was a member of the Accademia della Crusca.

His scholarship was wide ranging and included books on Renaissance writers such as Castiglione and Borghini.

His specialism included writing on Gabriele Rossetti and Gabriele D’ Annunzio.

An exceptional achievement by Mr Woodhouse was being the first person to write a monograph in English on Italo Calvino.