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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

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©1995 Al Van Helden
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