Perfecting the Telescope
The Medicean collections document the history of the telescope's early evolution, starting from Galileo's immediate successors, such as Ippolito Francini (1593-1653), Evangelista Torricelli (1608-1647) and Jacopo Mariani (17th century), up to the instrument makers specialized in producing optical apparatus. Eustachio Divini (1610-1685) and Giuseppe Campani (1635-1715) were among the first to build telescopes of impressive dimensions, not only for their own research but mainly for sale to wealthy individuals or astronomers seeking top-quality instruments for their new observatories.
Eyepiece lens
Inv. 2584
Ippolito Francini or Evangelista Torricelli or Jacopo Mariani [attr.], Florence, 1640-1660
Eyepiece lens
Inv. 2585
Ippolito Francini or Evangelista Torricelli or Jacopo Mariani [attr.], Florence, 1640-1660
Eyepiece lens
Inv. 2574
Eustachio Divini, Rome, 1666
Objective lens
Inv. 2632
Jacopo Mariani, Florence, 1660-1670
Objective lens
Inv. 2572
Evangelista Torricelli, 1643
Objective lens
Inv. 2571
Evangelista Torricelli, Florence, 1646
Octagonal telescope
Inv. 2557
Eustachio Divini, Rome, 1674
Octagonal telescope
Inv. 2553
Eustachio Divini, Rome, 1664
Telescope
Inv. 3090
Maker unknown, Italian, first half 18th cent.
Telescope
Inv. 3377
Maker unknown, 1650-1670
Telescope for Torricelli's lens
Inv. 2554
Evangelista Torricelli (Objective) / Tube: maker unknown, Objective: 1647 / Tube: second half 18th cent. (?)
Terrestrial telescope
Inv. 2560
Maker unknown, Italian, late 17th cent.
Terrestrial telescope
Inv. 2548
Jacques Tendre de Moulina, French?, first half 18th cent.
Terrestrial telescope
Inv. 2564
John Marshall [attr.], English, 1690-1720
Terrestrial telescope
Inv. 2558
Maker unknown, English, early 18th cent.
Terrestrial telescope
Inv. 2550
Giovanni Battista Magnelli, Italian, 1695
Terrestrial telescope
Inv. 2551
Giuseppe Campani, Rome, ca. 1664
Terrestrial telescope
Inv. 2552
Eustachio Divini, 1660-1670
Terrestrial telescope
Inv. 2562
Johann Wiesel [attr.], German, ca. 1650
Terrestrial telescope
Inv. 3639
Paolo Belletti, Italian, 1689
Terrestrial telescope
Inv. 3458
John Marshall [attr.], English, late 17th cent.
Terrestrial telescope
Inv. 3493
Maker unknown, Italian, second half 17th cent.
Terrestrial telescope
Inv. 2561
John Marshall [attr.], English, 1690-1720
Terrestrial telescope
Inv. 2556
Giuseppe Campani, Rome, 1666
Terrestrial telescope
Inv. 3185
Giuseppe Campani, Italian, 1665