Barocius [Barozzi], Franciscus

1. Dates

Born: Candia, Crete, 9 Aug. 1537

Died: Venice, 23 Nov. 1604

Dateinfo: Dates Certain

Lifespan: 67

2. Father

Occupation: Aristocrat

Iacopo Barozzi, a Ventian noble.

Barozzi apparently inherited a very extensive estate in Crete, and one cannot avoid the conclusion that he was reared in wealthy circumstances.

3. Nationality

Birth: Candia Crete (a Venetian colony)

Career: Italy

Death: Venice, italy

4. Education

Schooling: Padua

Received a humanistic education at the University of Padua. He also studied mathematics. There is no mention of a degree.

5. Religion

Affiliation: Catholic

Barozzi was tried by the Inquisition (charge unknown) and found guilty about 1583.

In 1587 there was another charge, this time of apostacy and heresy, from the sentence apparently charges of engaging in occult magical practices.

6. Scientific Disciplines

Primary: Mathematics, Astronomy

Subordinate: Occult Philosophy

Translated Proclus', Hero's, and Achimedean writings on geometry. He also published Cosmographia, 1585.

Barozzi was part of the movement to revive science via a close study of the ancients.

As mentioned above, Barozzi got deeply involved in occult philosophy and in consequent trouble with the Inquisition.

7. Means of Support

Primary: Personal Means

He lectured on the sphere of Sacrobosco at the University of Padua in 1559. But it is clear that he never held a university appointment and, as an aristocrat, was in fact legally excluded from such.

Barozzi had extensive estates which yielded an income of 4,000 ducats in Candia, and he lived there at least part of his life. His correspondence seems to indicate that he lived in Venice for the most part.

8. Patronage

Types: Eccesiastic Official, Aristrocrat, Court Official

Given Barozzi's position and wealth, patronage in the ordinary sense cannot have applied to him. I do however note the following dedications, whatever they may have meant.

Rythmomachia to Camille Paleotti, a Senator of Bologna.

The initial publication of an oration delivered in Padua in 1558 to the Rev. Daniello Barbara, Patriarch of Aquila.

His edition of Hero to the Duke of Mantua.

His commentary on passages in Plato to Card. Gabriello Paleotti.

Cosmographia to the Duke of Urbino.

9. Technological Involvement

Types: None

10. Scientific Societies

Memberships: None

He was a member of the Paduan Accademia dei Potenti, which I do not list as a scientific society.

He corresponded with Sarpi, Aldrovandi, and Clavius.

Sources

1. Dizionario biografico degli italiani, VI (1964), pp. 495-9 B. Boncompagni, "Intorno alla vita e ai labori de Francesco Barozzi" Bullettino di bibliographia e di storia delle scienze mathematiche e fisiche, 17 (1884) pp. 795-848 Lynn Thorndike, A History of Magic and Experimental Science, 6, (New York, 1941), 25, 47, 154-5, 199.
2. G.M.Mazzuchelli, Gli scrittori d'Italia, (Brescia, 1753- ), 2, pt. 2, 411-14.

Compiled by:

Richard S. Westfall

Department of History and Philosophy of Science

Indiana University

Note: the creators of the Galileo Project and this catalogue cannot answer email on geneological questions.