Epact: Scientific Instruments of Medieval and Renaissance Europe

Eufrosino della Volpaia

Eufrosino della Volpaia (Florence, end of the 15th century - France, ?), a clockmaker and constructor and inventor of scientific instruments, followed his father's trade, like his brothers Benvenuto della Volpaia and Camillo della Volpaia. His first dated and signed dial, now at the National Maritime Museum in Greenwich, dates from 1516. In 1520 he made the nocturnal dial which is now at the Museo di Storia della Scienza di Firenze, and in 1525 he made the astrolabe now preserved in the British Museum in London. In Venice, where he stayed during 1530, he designed an instrument for measuring distances and heights which is described in the notebook of his brother Benvenuto. He also worked as an architect, directing work on the Fortezza da Basso designed by Antonio da Sangallo in 1534. In 1542 he built a terrestrial globe which is now conserved at the Hispanic Society of America in New York. In 1547 he was active as a cartographer, carrying out the Mappa della Campagna romana al tempo di Paolo III. He died in France, as we learn from Benvenuto's notebook, at an unspecified date.

For instruments by Eufrosino della Volpaia, see:

Astrolabe, Signed by Eufrosino della Volpaia, Florence, Dated 1525 (London, BM)

Nocturnal And Quadrant, Signed by Eufrosino della Volpaia, Florence, Dated 1520 (Firenze, IMSS)

Epact Scientific Instruments of Medieval and Renaissance Europe