Alberto Lualdi

LA FAMIGLIA SELVA, OTTICI DEL '700 VENEZIANO

title SUMMARY /title A new research about the Selva family of opticians and instrument makers in Venice during the XVIII century is described in this article. From Domenico, the grandfather (d. 1758), to the famous Lorenzo (1716-1800) and his sons Giuseppe or Jacopo (1755-?) and Domenico (1761-?) and through the books and pamphlets they left, a large and distinguished production confirms their leadership in the field. A list of the extant instruments is also given.

REPERTORIO DEI COSTRUTTORI ITALIANI DI STRUMENTI SCIENTIFICI

title SUMMARY /title A biographical inventory of Italian scientific instrument makers has been conducted through extensive research in public and private collections throughout the world. The time-span is comprised between the 16 th and the 18 th centuries for each maker information about his signed and dated instruments, categories, collections and references has been given. As the first attempt of a listing of Italian makers, it must be considered as a work in progress. In a short time the text will be transfered on Internet to allow new additions and the corrections brought by the continuation of research.

BIAGIO BURLINI, UN OTTICO DEL '700 VENEZIANO

title SUMMARY /title The sphere of activity of Biagio Burlini, an optician and instrumentmaker working in Venice around the middle of the eighteenth century, is here pointed out. A research in the Archivio Patriarcale of Venice allowed to find the year of his birth (1709) and his death (13.1.1771). A survey of signed microscopes and telescopes now in various public and private collections contributes to a better knowledge of optical instrument-makers in that century.

PIETRO PATRONI, UN OTTICO DELLA MILANO POST-SPAGNOLA

SUMMARY The present paper gives new information about the activity of Pietro Patroni, an early XVIII century optician from Milan, working just after the Spanish domination. By means of research carried out in the City and Church Archives it has been possible to find out the year of his birth, 1676 or 1677, and that of his death, 1744 (September, 1), the name of his wife and brother and the parish church he belonged to.An annotated list of the known microscopes and telescopes gives an impression of his production, partly derivative of Seventeenth century heritage but partly original and innovative.The number of his known signed instruments has been doubled by the discover of one unknown microscope and seven telescopes in private collections and public Museums.