Volumi in viaggio. Una storia di circolazione libraria nell’Europa del Seicento
abstract
The article analyses the circulation of the Trattato della direzione de’ fiumi, a treatise of hydraulic engineering written by the Roman mathematician Famiano Michelini in 1664. The work was supported from the beginning by the Florentine prince (and future cardinal) Leopoldo de’ Medici, who sent copies of the book to many different places in and outside of Europe. In this respect, Leopoldo played a crucial role as broker within a lively network of international scholars. The article draws significantly on a newly discovered corpus of letters sent by Leopoldo to his agent in Rome, Ottavio Falconieri.
Keywords: Hydraulics • Leopoldo de’ Medici • Famiano Michelini • Letters • Books • Ottavio Falconieri