Ricci

NAME: Ricci, Michelangelo

ACHIEVEMENT(S): Vacuum work.

NICKNAME/ALIAS: None

DATE/PLACE OF BIRTH: 30 January 1619, at Rome, Italy

DATE/PLACE/AGE AT DEATH: 12 May 1682, in Rome, Italy.  Aged 63

DISCIPLINE: Mathematician

FIELD: Mathematics

LANGUAGE: Italian

PARENTS: Prospero Ricci and ?

SIBLINGS: Unknown

SPOUSE: None

CHILDREN: None

EDUCATION: Unknown

MAJOR WORK: 'Exercitatio geometrica, De maximis et minimis', 1666

LIFE AND TIMES: Michelangelo Ricci was born in 1619 at Rome, Italy, the son of Prospero Ricci, originally from Como. Born into a poor family, he somehow received enough schooling to be accepted in the late 1630’s as a student of mathematics by Benedetto Castelli in Rome, alongside the young <influenced by pal> Torricelli*, and to study theology and canon law.

During this period as a student in Rome, Ricci became close friends with Torricelli, who would later on influence his geometrical research.

During the 1640’s Ricci became involved in the theoretical and experimental debates about Torricelli’s discovery of air-pressure. In addition to participating in some experiments in Rome by <collaborated with> Berti* (based on the ideas of <worked on theories of> Galileo* and <worked on theories of> Baliani*), Ricci was sent the only two documents (letters dated 11 and 28 June, 1644) in which Torricelli described his barometric experiments.

During the 1650’s and 1660’s, in spite of having church duties (although he was never ordained a priest), he continued his interest in mathematics, and in 1666 published his only surviving mathematical work, a 19-page printed booklet titled: 'Geometrica exercitatio,'  often known by its subtitle 'De maximis et minimis.'  

Ricci's reputation as a mathematician rested more on the many letters he wrote on mathematical topics, rather than on his published work. He corresponded with many mathematicians across Europe including <corresponded with> Viviani*.  

Ricci also corresponded with Leopoldo de' Medici, who consulted him on everything concerned with the <worked for> Accademia del Cimento*, including the final editing of its collected works, published in 1667.  He also served as an editor of the 'Giornale dei letterati', which was founded in Rome in 1668.

Ricci served at the papal court in various capacities under three successive popes, Alexander VII, Clement IX, and Innocent XI  (who made Ricci a cardinal in 1681;   <in circle of> Queen Christina* of Sweden, in whose circle Ricci eventually moved, was apparently responsible for this). 

As a member of the papal court, he repeatedly intervened to save from censorship by the ecclesiastical authorities the activities of the representatives of the newest scientific ideas. However, the pressure of these duties took him away from mathematics although, as a cardinal, he was involved in discussions with Viviani on his “Life of Galileo” advising him on the delicate subject of the Church's attitude towards the Copernican theory.

ASSESSMENT: Michelangelo Ricci played an important role within the group known as the 'school of Galileo'.

EXTRA CONNECTIONS:  His work affected that of <influenced> Borelli*

ONELINER: Michelangelo Ricci, early vacuum experimenter

BIBLIOGRAPHY:

DSB