Educators 17th century
Matthias Bernegger (latin: Bernegerus or Matthew) was an Austrian and French scientist, astronomer, mathematician, linguist and translator.
He was educated in Strasbourg, where he developed a special interest in astronomy and mathematics. Bernegger corresponded with the famous scientists Johannes Kepler and Wilhelm Schickard. From 1607, Bernegger taught at the Strasbourg Gymnasium, and in 1616 he was appointed professor at the Academy.
Bernegger is known for his translations of Justinian and Tacitus, and in 1612 translated into Latin Galileo's 1606 work on the proportional compass, adding considerably to it. These additional detailed annotations by Bernegger made Galileo's compass much easier to use, making it the first mechanical calculating device that could be applied to a wide variety of complex problems. In 1619 Bernegger prepared a three-volume manual of mathematics, and in 1635 he translated Galileo's Dialogue on the Two Mass Systems of the World.
Giovanni Alfonso Borelli was an Italian universalist scientist of the 17th century Scientific Revolution, the founder of biomechanics.
He studied mathematics under Benedetto Castelli (1577-1644) in Rome. In the 1640s Borelli was appointed to the chair of mathematics at the University of Messina and at Pisa in 1656. After 12 years at Pisa and numerous disputes with colleagues, Borelli left the university. In 1667 Borelli returned to the University of Messina, where he engaged in literary and historical studies, studied the eruption of the volcano Etna, and continued to work on the problem of muscular movement of animals and other bodily functions according to the laws of statics and dynamics. In 1674 he was accused of participating in a conspiracy to liberate Sicily from Spain and fled to Rome.
Borelli is known primarily for his attempts to explain muscular movement and other bodily functions according to the laws of statics and dynamics. His best-known work is De Motu Animalium (1680-81; "On the Motion of Animals"). Borelli calculated the forces required for balance in the various joints of the human body, long before Newton published his Laws of Motion. Borelli was the first to realize that musculoskeletal levers increase motion, not force, so muscles must produce much greater forces than those that resist motion. He was also one of the first microscopists: he made microscopic studies of blood circulation, nematodes, textile fibers, and spider eggs. Borelli also authored works on physics, medicine, astronomy, geology, mathematics, and mechanics.
François Couperin was a French composer, organist and harpsichordist.
François Couperin is a member of a large dynasty of French musicians. At the age of 18, François succeeded his father, Charles Couperin (1638-1679), as organist at the Church of Saint-Gervais in Paris, and in 1693 he became one of the four organists of the Chapel Royal. He soon became a harpsichord teacher for the royal children, and in 1717 was appointed court harpsichordist.
François Couperin is known primarily for his harpsichord music; between 1713 and 1730 he published four books of more than 250 pieces for harpsichord. Some of them are characterized by complex accompaniment and dialogues between violin and bass, while others are light, graceful and expressive. Couperin's harpsichord pieces, even during the author's lifetime, gained great fame not only in France but also abroad. Couperin also wrote chamber music, including trio sonatas (for harpsichord and two violins) and "Royal Concertos", which he composed for Sunday evening royal entertainment. He also composed motets and other church music. Couperin's last and most significant liturgical work, Leçons de ténèbres (c. 1715), has no parallel in either French or Italian music of the period. Johann Sebastian Bach knew and appreciated this work by Couperin.
Couperin authored The Art of Touching the Clavier (1716), in which he explained in detail the technique of playing the harpsichord. And in his publications of the early 1720s, he suggested a wide variety of ways of combining French and Italian styles.
Giovanni Battista Ferrari was an Italian Jesuit scholar, professor of Oriental languages and botanist.
Giovanni Ferrari had linguistic abilities and at the age of 21 knew Hebrew well, spoke and wrote Greek and Latin perfectly, and learned Syriac. He became professor of Hebrew and rhetoric at the Jesuit College in Rome and edited a Syriac-Latin dictionary in 1622.
Ferrari always showed great interest in the systematics and classification of fruits. He was appointed head of the chair of Hebraistics at the College of Rome and held this position for 28 years. In 1623, Ferrari became horticultural advisor to the family of Pope Urban VIII at the Palazzo Barberini, which soon became famous for its rare plants, including orange trees. Ferrari later wrote the first book on citrus trees, equating them to the mythical golden apples of the Hesperides conquered by Hercules. Orange trees became an important element of Baroque gardens, symbolizing the rewards earned by the magnanimous prince. The scientist also described the medicinal properties of citrus fruits.
In 1633, the first treatise on floriculture, De florum cultura, was published. In it, Ferrari describes garden layout with contemporary examples, flower specimens and their cultivation, and general horticulture.
Johannes Kepler was a German mathematician and astronomer who discovered that the Earth and planets move around the Sun in elliptical orbits.
Kepler created the three fundamental laws of planetary motion. He also did seminal work in optics and geometry, calculated the most accurate astronomical tables, and made many inventions and discoveries in physics on which further scientific discoveries by advanced scientists were based.
Fortunio Liceti (Latin: Fortunius Licetus) was an Italian physician, natural philosopher, writer and educator.
Liceti studied philosophy and medicine at the University of Bologna and earned doctorates in these disciplines. He taught logic and philosophy at the University of Pisa, and became professor of philosophy at the University of Padua and the University of Bologna. At the University of Padua, Liceti became friends with Galileo Galilei.
Liceti's inquisitive mind was interested in a wide range of subjects: from genetics and reproduction to gems and animals. In general, Fortunio Liceti was a very industrious and prolific scientist: he published a book each year, writing more than seventy works on a wide range of subjects, including the human soul, reproduction, and birth defects.
In 1616, Liceti wrote and published the first edition of De monstruorum causis, natura et differentiis (On the Causes, Nature, and Differences of Monsters), a chronologically ordered catalog of monsters from antiquity to the seventeenth century. Among these monsters were infants with congenital malformations. Liceti was one of the first scholars to attempt to systematically categorize birth defects according to their causes, including numerous causes not related to the supernatural. This topic interested the scientist greatly and he returned to it several times during his life, supplementing it with illustrations, among other things. From 1640 to 1650. Liceti also wrote and published seven different volumes in which he answered questions from famous people on a wide variety of medical topics.
Marcello Malpighi was an Italian biologist, anatomist and physician, professor of logic, theoretical and practical medicine, and a member of the Royal Society of London.
After graduating from the University of Bologna with the degree of Doctor of Medicine and Philosophy, Malpighi soon took up a professorship there, then taught at the universities of Pisa and Messina. At the same time as teaching, he conducted biological research with his microscopes, which was an innovation in those days. In 1661, he identified and described the pulmonary and capillary network connecting small arteries to small veins, one of the most important discoveries in the history of science. He also isolated taste buds and regarded them as nerve endings, described the minute structure of the brain, the optic nerve, and in 1666 was the first to see red blood cells and attribute to them the color of blood. His treatise De polypo cordis (1666) explained the composition of blood and how it coagulates.
During his medical practice, Malpighi studied microscopic sections of the liver, brain, spleen, kidneys, and the bone and deep layers of skin that now bear his name. In his landmark 1673 work on the embryology of the chicken, the scientist concluded that the embryo forms in the egg after fertilization. In 1675-79 he also made extensive comparative studies of the microscopic anatomy of several different plants and saw analogies between plant and animal organisms. The Royal Society of London published two volumes of his botanical and zoological works in 1675 and 1679. His Anatome Plantarum is richly decorated with engravings by Robert White.
After his house was burned and looted by his adversaries, in 1691 Pope Innocent XII invited him to Rome as papal personal physician, which was a great honor.
Malpighi can be considered the first histologist. For almost 40 years he used the microscope to describe the main types of plant and animal structures and thus marked for future generations of biologists the main directions of research in botany, embryology, human anatomy and pathology. The conflict between ancient ideas and modern discoveries continued throughout the seventeenth century. Malpighi was convinced that microscopic anatomy, by showing the minute structure of living things, questioned the value of the old medicine. He laid the anatomical foundation for the subsequent understanding of human physiological exchanges.
Pedro Orrente was a Spanish painter, renowned for his contributions to Tenebrismo toledano and early Baroque art. Born in Murcia in 1580 and active until his death in Valencia in 1645, Orrente was a pivotal figure in Spanish painting. His style, often compared to the Venetian Bassano family, was notable for blending Old-Testament subjects with lush landscapes, earning him the moniker "the Spanish Bassano."
Orrente's journey as an artist was marked by his travels and influential associations. After beginning his career in Murcia, he moved to Toledo, where he was influenced by the works of the Bassano family and other Venetian masters. His travels to Venice and Rome enriched his art, as he assimilated the naturalism of Caravaggio and the vibrant styles of Titian, Tintoretto, and Veronese.
His works, celebrated for their naturalistic approach and dynamic compositions, can be found in significant collections. The Prado Museum in Madrid houses several of his paintings, including "The Adoration of the Shepherds" (1623-1625) and "Labán da alcance a Jacob." The Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York features his work "Thomas of Villanova, Archbishop of Valencia Distributing Alms to the Poor," showcasing his mastery in drawing. Orrente's "The Crucifixion," a powerful depiction of Christ's crucifixion, is another testament to his talent, blending dramatic composition with a profound understanding of human emotion.
Orrente's influence extended beyond his lifetime, shaping the works of artists like Esteban March, Pablo Pontons, and Mateo Gilarte. His legacy in the Baroque art movement is undeniable, as he pioneered the integration of naturalistic styles in Spain.
For art collectors and experts, understanding Orrente's contributions offers a deeper insight into the evolution of Baroque art. His works not only reflect the artistic trends of his time but also his unique interpretation of biblical narratives and natural landscapes.
For enthusiasts of Pedro Orrente's art and the Baroque era, signing up for updates is essential. Our subscription service offers the latest news on product sales and auction events related to Orrente's works. This is a unique opportunity to stay informed about the availability of masterpieces by this eminent artist.
Francisco Pacheco del Río, baptized on November 3, 1564, and passing away on November 27, 1644, was a distinguished Spanish painter. Renowned for his dual role as Diego Velázquez's teacher and father-in-law, Pacheco's influence extends beyond his familial ties, contributing significantly to the arts through his seminal textbook, "Art of Painting." This work remains a crucial resource for understanding 17th-century artistic practices in Spain. Often referred to as the "Vasari of Seville," Pacheco's insights into painting theories and reflections on his contemporaries have left an indelible mark on the history of art, despite criticisms of his conventional execution in painting.
Pacheco's early life was marked by an immersive education in art, learning from Luis Fernandez and drawing inspiration from Italian masters. His journey included a pivotal sojourn to Madrid and Toledo in 1611 to study the works of El Greco, which further enriched his artistic repertoire. Upon his return to Seville, Pacheco opened an art school, laying the groundwork for his future contributions to art education and theory.
His career was notably characterized by his position as the official censor for Seville's Inquisition, which influenced his academic approach to religious subjects. Despite this, his paintings, such as the Last Judgment and Martyrs of Granada, are celebrated for their monumental scale. Pacheco's most enduring legacy, however, may be his influence on Diego Velázquez, whom he mentored for six years. Velázquez's marriage to Pacheco's daughter Juana in 1618 further solidified their personal and professional bonds. Pacheco's "Arte de la pintura" not only provided invaluable biographical information on Spanish painters of his era but also laid down foundational theories on iconography, materials, and technique.
For those interested in exploring Francisco Pacheco del Río's works further, notable pieces can be found in prestigious collections, such as the Museo Nacional del Prado, enriching our understanding of his impact on the art world.
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Francesco Plazzoni was an Italian physician and anatomist.
Plazzoni was a fellow student of Fabrizi and colleague of Spigellius, and taught in Padua. He is the author of the treatise De partibus generationi inservientibus libri duo (Padua, 1621). His text is based on Plazzoni's anatomical lectures in Padua and deals with the physiology of the penis, the clitoris, and sexual arousal.
Johann Daniel Preißler was a German painter of the late seventeenth and first third of the eighteenth centuries. He is known as a painter, draughtsman, printmaker, teacher and art theorist.
Preißler created portraits, genre paintings, and drawings in the nude genre. Especially famous is his plafond depicting the apostles in the Church of St. Egidius in Nuremberg. He was also the author of many copperplate engravings, mostly portraits. His significant contribution to art was the Drawing Book, a set of rules and instructions for artists.
Vincenzo Renieri, born Giovanni Paolo, was an Italian priest, astronomer and mathematician.
Renieri was a member of the Olivetan Order and traveled throughout Italy. In 1633 in Siena, he met the already blind Galileo, who, appreciating his knowledge, instructed him to update his astronomical tables of the motion of the satellites of Jupiter, adding new ones. Rainieri later met the astronomer and scientist Vincenzo Viviani (1622-1703), with whom he worked for many years, continuing Galileo's observations of Jupiter's moons.
Renieri was also professor of mathematics at the University of Pisa and taught Greek there. In 1639 he published his work Tabulae Mediceae secundorum Mobilium Universales in Florence. One of the lunar craters is named after Renieri.
Giovanni Dominico Santorini was an Italian anatomist and professor.
Santorini studied medicine in Bologna, Padua and Pisa, earning his doctorate. One of his teachers was Marcello Malpighi (1628-1694). In 1703 Santorini began anatomical autopsies and was a demonstrator of anatomy in Venice from 1706 to 1728. In 1728 he became proto-medic and physician to Spedaletto in that city.
He was considered one of the most industrious and meticulous anatomists of the eighteenth century. Santorini's anatomical studies include many muscular and venous structures, cartilage, and glands of the human body. In addition to detailed descriptions of these structures, he also produced magnificent copper plates and illustrations. In 1724, Santorini published Observationes anatomicae ("Anatomical Observations"), a work that included anatomical aspects of the human body.
Giovanni Santorini's work greatly expanded knowledge of human anatomy, and several organs are named after him. Santorini was also a popular pioneer in the teaching of obstetrics.
Johann Jakob Scheuchzer was a Swiss naturalist and geologist, paleontologist and fossil collector.
Scheuchzer studied at the University of Altdorf near Nuremberg, earned a doctorate in medicine at Utrecht University, and studied astronomy. He worked as a teacher, physician, and corresponded extensively with many scientists, writing several papers, including those on Swiss research, weather, geology, and fossils. Scheuchzer collected fossils during his extensive travels. And, as a proponent of diluvialism, he believed that all fossils and layers of the earth were formed by the Flood.
Between 1731 and 1735, Scheuchzer published a massive four-volume work called Physica Sacra, which is essentially a commentary on the Bible. It presented the facts of natural history along with passages of scripture. Thus Physcia Sacra attempted to reconcile the Bible with science.
This book is also called the "Copper Bible" because it contains over 750 magnificent color engravings on copper plates. These engravings are in themselves the pinnacle of engraving from the Baroque period. The illustrations depict scenes with biblical and scientific motifs. They were based on his own cabinet of natural history and other famous European cabinets of rare specimens. The engravings were produced by highly skilled engravers, including Georg Daniel Heumann and Johann August Corwin.
During his lifetime, Johann Jakob Scheuchzer wrote 34 scientific papers and many articles, and he was a member of the Royal Society.
Israël Spach (also Israelis Spachius) was a German and French physician, medical writer and teacher of medicine.
Spach studied at the University of Tübingen, receiving the degree of doctor of medicine, and from 1589 taught medicine and Hebrew at the University of Strasbourg, with the rank of professor of medicine. He was characterized by a high bibliographical education.
Spach was the author of a gynecological encyclopedia, Gynaeciorum sive de mulierum tum communibus, tum gravidarum, parientium, et puerperarum affectibus et morbis, published in Strasbourg in 1597. It was a very significant book for its time.
Israël Spach also wrote Nomenclator scriptorum medicorum..., published in Frankfurt in 1591, which was the first attempt at a bibliography on medical subjects. It was organized under very broad subject headings, with indexes of authors and subjects.
Johann Zahn (German: Johann or Johannes Zahn) was a German scientist and philosopher, optician and astronomer, mathematician and inventor.
Zahn studied mathematics and physics at the University of Würzburg, was professor of mathematics at the University of Würzburg, and served as a canon of the Order of Regular Canon Premonstratensians. His other activities were optics as well as astronomical observations.
In 1686 Johann Zahn invented and designed a portable camera obscura with fixed lenses and an adjustable mirror, which is the prototype of the camera. In his treatise on optics, Oculus Artificialis Teledioptricus (1702), Zahn gives a complete picture of the state of optical science of his time. He begins with basic information about the eye and then moves on to optical instruments. The book is aimed at eighteenth-century microscope and telescope enthusiasts and includes all the necessary details of construction, from lens grinding to drawings.