‘Acutezza’ and ‘Figure ingegnose’

What is it about?

This article focuses on the representation of experimental practice and the illustrations of scientific instruments in the Saggi di naturali esperienze of the Accademia del Cimento. In line with this volume’s topic “Shared Languages,” I highlight two essential rhetorical concepts to better understand the academy’s representation of its activities: the rhetorical category of acutezza (acute, ingenious thinking) and figura ingegnosa (realistic illustrations of the scientific instruments and symbols of the academicians' intellectual brilliance). Both are prominently explained in Emanuele Tesauro’s Il Cannocchiale Aristotelico, which serves as a way to deepen our understanding of the activity of the Cimento. I also contribute biographical details to "Il Cinodiana”, the engraver of the instruments, active in the entourage of the Accademia dei Gelati. In addition, I attribute drawings of the instruments in connection with the Saggi to Vincenzo Viviani, trained in draughtsmanship by the Florentine artist Baccio del Bianco.

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