Giambattista della Porta

Giambattista della Porta (1538-1615). Scholar and polymath who lived in Naples, Italy. A child prodigy, Della Porta was educated at home where scientific discussions occurred. The wealth acquired from the ownership of several estates ensured that he could devote his life to his studies. His most famous work first published in 1558 entitled Natural Magic was expanded into 20 books in 1584 and translated from Latin into several European languages.

Related Topics:
1538 - 1615 - Polymath - Naples - Child prodigy - 1558 - Natural Magic - 1584 - Latin - Europe

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Della Porta founded the Ostiosi (Men of Leisure) an early scientific society, a condition of membership being to demonstrate a new discovery in the natural sciences. The Academia Secretorum Naturae was suspected of dabbling in the Occult and Della Porta was summoned to Rome by Pope Paul V. The Society was closed down by the Inquisition but Della Porta defended and justified his search for truth in nature. He was cautioned and allowed to continue his studies of investigating nature's properties.

Related Topics:
Ostiosi - Natural science - Academia Secretorum Naturae - Occult - Rome - Pope Paul V - Inquisition

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In 1586 Della Porta published a work on Physiognomy which later influenced the Swiss Pastor Johann Kaspar Lavater (1741-1801). Della Porta wrote extensively upon a wide spectrum of subjects throughout his life - including an agricultural encyclopædia entitled Villa, as well as works on meteorology optics and astronomy.

Related Topics:
1586 - Physiognomy - Johann Kaspar Lavater - Meteorology - Optics - Astronomy

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His work Phytognomica lists plants according to their geographical location. In a later edition of his Natural Magic, Della Porta described a Camera obscura with a convex lens; though he was not the inventor of this technical refinement, the popularity of his work helped spread knowledge of the device.

Related Topics:
Natural Magic - Camera obscura - Convex lens

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In later life Della Porta collected rare specimens from the natural world and grew exotic plants. His private museum was visited by travellers and was one the earliest examples of Natural History museuems. It inspired the Jesuit Athanasius Kircher to begin a similar collection in Rome. Della Porta also wrote fourteen prose comedies and two dramatic tragedies which became source material for several 17th century dramatists. Della Porta's works are well-represented in the Library of Sir Thomas Browne by no less than six titles.

Related Topics:
Natural History - Jesuit - Athanasius Kircher - Prose comedies - Dramatic tragedies - 17th century - Library of Sir Thomas Browne

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