Atmospheric phenomena—a subject of curiosity and interest from the beginnings of civilization—were first discussed in a systematic manner by Aristotle. Until the Renaissance, however, meteorology remained a field dominated by empirical knowledge mainly regarding the exceptional events occurring above the Earth's surface. Experimental meteorology was inaugurated by the Accademia del Cimento. The invention and improvement of the thermometer, barometer, and hygrometer allowed the transition from simple observation of meteorological phenomena to their measurement and comparison. The 18th C. saw the advent of systematic observations, with the consequent production of meteorological ephemeris, collected by an ever denser network of observatories. With the introduction of very sophisticated and fully comparable instruments in the 19th C., the study of the physical and dynamic properties of the atmosphere became an extremely specialized field.
Inv. 2040
M. Gallonde, Paris, late 18th cent.
Inv. 803
Maker unknown, first half 19th cent.
Inv. 848
Maker unknown, 18th cent.
Inv. 1134
Maker unknown, late 18th cent.
Inv. 1153
Maker unknown, first half 19th cent.
Inv. 1143
Maker unknown, first half 19th cent.
Inv. 1152
Nicolas Fortin, France, 1793
Inv. 1718
John Troughton, London, 1782-1800
Inv. 3816
Niccolò Masini, Florence, ca. 1860
Inv. 1147
Edward Nairne, London, ca. 1770
Inv. 3707
Nairne & Blunt firm, London, ca. 1780
Inv. 1148
Antonio Matteucci, Siena, ca. 1850
Inv. 1161
Maker unknown, second half 19th cent.
Inv. 3926
Maker unknown, Italian, late 18th cent.
Inv. 1150
Maker unknown, ca. 1760
Inv. 1556
Maker unknown, late 18th cent.
Inv. 1155
Maker unknown, Italian, second half 18th cent.
Inv. 2434
Maker unknown, second half 17th cent.
Inv. 2435
Maker unknown, second half 17th cent.
Inv. 2032
Maker unknown, Italian, ca. 1850
Inv. 2442
Nairne & Blunt firm, London, late 18th cent.
Inv. 3708
Maker unknown, Italian?, late 19th cent.
Inv. 1381
Maker unknown, ca. 1845
Inv. 1792
Maker unknown, Italian, second half 18th cent.
Inv. 3464
Felice Fontana, Italian, second half 18th cent.
Inv. 407
Maker unknown, late 18th cent.
Inv. 941
John Troughton, London, 1782-1800
Inv. 2038
Felice Fontana [attr.], Italian, second half 18th cent.
Inv. 385
Dollond firm, London, late 18th cent.
Inv. 2029
Dollond firm, London, late 18th cent.
Inv. 1795
Maker unknown, 19th cent.
Inv. 1895
Maker unknown, Italian?, first half 19th cent.
Inv. 4
Adams, London, second half 18th cent.
Inv. 1135
Daniel Quare, London, early 18th cent.
Inv. 1136
Daniel Quare, London, early 18th cent.
Inv. 3659
Giustino Paggi, Florence, ca. 1880
Inv. 1131
Galgano Gori, Florence, 1846
Inv. 1146
Maker unknown, first half 19th cent.
Inv. 3467
Maker unknown, second half 19th cent.
Inv. 1163
Felice Fontana, Italian, late 18th cent.
Inv. 1774
Maker unknown, first half 19th cent.
Inv. 2033
Jaques Paul [attr.], Geneva, late 18th cent.
Inv. 1132
Maker unknown, mid-19th cent.
Inv. 1141
Giovanni Domenico Tamburini, early 18th cent.
Inv. 1142
Giovanni Domenico Tamburini [attr.], early 18th cent.
Inv. 1144
Deleuil firm, Paris, ca. 1850
Inv. 3627
Giovanni Domenico Tamburini, early 18th cent.
Inv. 1897
Antonio Matteucci, ca. 1790
Inv. 1137
Maker unknown, late 18th cent.
Inv. 697
Maker unknown, late 18th cent.
Inv. 2436
Maker unknown, second half 17th cent.
Inv. 1, 2439
Maker unknown, second half 17th cent.
Inv. 2, 2438
Maker unknown, second half 17th cent.
Inv. 3, 2437
Maker unknown, second half 17th cent.
Inv. 799
Vincenzo Viviani [attr.], Italian, second half 17th cent. (oldest part)
Inv. 1139
Maker unknown, Italian, late 18th cent.
Inv. 1140
Santino Donegani, Italian, late 18th cent.
Inv. 3623
Maker unknown, Base: late 17th cent. / Horse: late 16th cent.
Inv. 3728
Maker unknown, late 18th cent.