Epact: Scientific Instruments of Medieval and Renaissance Europe

Egnatio Danti

Egnatio Danti (Perugia 1536 - Alatri 1586), a Dominican friar, was the Grand Ducal cosmographer to Cosimo I de' Medici, and was charged with producing the maps that still adorn the Map Room of the Palazzo Vecchio in Florence. An inventor of scientific instruments, the author of still widely diffused texts on the structure and use of the astrolabe and astronomical problems, Danti was also reader in mathematics at the Florentine Studio. Among other things, he was responsible for the gnomon of S. Maria Novella and the astronomical instruments situated on the facade of the same church. On the death of Cosimo I, he had to leave Florence due to his poor relationship with Francesco I. He travelled to Rome where he worked on the geographical maps of the Vatican palaces. He finally became bishop of Alatri, where he died.

For instruments by Egnatio Danti, see:

Astrolabe, Signed by Egnatio Danti, Florence, circa 1570 (Oxford, MHS)

Primum Mobile, Signed by Egnatio Danti, Florence, Dated 1568 (Firenze, IMSS)

Epact Scientific Instruments of Medieval and Renaissance Europe