This article describes an important manuscript discovered recently in the Royal Society archives, and presents evidence that it is the holograph of Galileo’s Letter to Benedetto Castelli of 21 December 1613. It was in this letter that Galileo first set out his ideas on the relation between science and religion, and defended Copernican astronomy from charges of being contrary to the Holy Scriptures. The text of the Letter has hitherto been known only through manuscript copies, namely the 12 used by Antonio Favaro in his critical edition of 1895. Despite his magisterial work, Favaro did not manage to locate Galileo’s autograph and was forced to rely exclusively on copies. The Letter to Castelli preserved at the Royal Society is of remarkable interest. By comparison with the other extant manuscript copies by different hands, its wording seems to be theologically more daring and compromising. The discovery of this autograph is therefore one of the most important in Galilean studies in recent decades, shedding new light on his intricate relations with the Roman Catholic Church in these years.

(2019). The Reappearance of Galileo's Letter to Benedetto Castelli [journal article - articolo]. In NOTES AND RECORDS OF THE ROYAL SOCIETY OF LONDON. Retrieved from http://hdl.handle.net/10446/134340

The Reappearance of Galileo's Letter to Benedetto Castelli

Camerota, Michele;Giudice, Franco;Ricciardo, Salvatore
2019-01-01

Abstract

This article describes an important manuscript discovered recently in the Royal Society archives, and presents evidence that it is the holograph of Galileo’s Letter to Benedetto Castelli of 21 December 1613. It was in this letter that Galileo first set out his ideas on the relation between science and religion, and defended Copernican astronomy from charges of being contrary to the Holy Scriptures. The text of the Letter has hitherto been known only through manuscript copies, namely the 12 used by Antonio Favaro in his critical edition of 1895. Despite his magisterial work, Favaro did not manage to locate Galileo’s autograph and was forced to rely exclusively on copies. The Letter to Castelli preserved at the Royal Society is of remarkable interest. By comparison with the other extant manuscript copies by different hands, its wording seems to be theologically more daring and compromising. The discovery of this autograph is therefore one of the most important in Galilean studies in recent decades, shedding new light on his intricate relations with the Roman Catholic Church in these years.
articolo
2019
Camerota, Michele; Giudice, Franco Salvatore; Ricciardo, Salvatore
(2019). The Reappearance of Galileo's Letter to Benedetto Castelli [journal article - articolo]. In NOTES AND RECORDS OF THE ROYAL SOCIETY OF LONDON. Retrieved from http://hdl.handle.net/10446/134340
File allegato/i alla scheda:
File Dimensione del file Formato  
The reapparance of Galileo's Letter to Castelli.pdf

accesso aperto

Versione: publisher's version - versione editoriale
Licenza: Licenza default Aisberg
Dimensione del file 2.5 MB
Formato Adobe PDF
2.5 MB Adobe PDF Visualizza/Apri
Pubblicazioni consigliate

Aisberg ©2008 Servizi bibliotecari, Università degli studi di Bergamo | Terms of use/Condizioni di utilizzo

Utilizza questo identificativo per citare o creare un link a questo documento: https://hdl.handle.net/10446/134340
Citazioni
  • Scopus 6
  • ???jsp.display-item.citation.isi??? 8
social impact