Vincenzo Viviani (1622-1703)
Vincenzo Viviani was born and raised in Florence where early on he attracted attention
for his abilities in mathematics. In 1639, at age 17, he became the student, secretary
and assistant of Galileo (now blind) in Arcetri. He became court mathematician of the
Grand Duke of Tuscany, Ferdinand II, in 1647, and a decade later he became one of the
first members of the Grand Duke's experimental academy, the Accademia del Cimento. He
became a foreign member of the French Academy upon its founding in 1666.
During his long career, Viviani published a number of books on mathematical and scientific
subjects. He edited the first edition of Galileo's collected works (1655-1656), and worked
tirelessly to have his master's memory rehabilitated. When, in the 1730s, the Church
finally allowed Galileo to be reburied in a grave with an elaborate monument, the monument
in the church of Santa Croce was constructed with the help of funds left by Viviani for
that purpose. His own remains were moved to Galileo's new grave as well.
Vincenzo and Galileo
Viviani House
galileo@rice.edu