farfel_n03_027_144

R. E. Taylor, No Royal road, Luca Pacioli + His Times (1942)

Luca Pacioli - mathematician, Franciscan friar, the great
Teacher of mathematics in the courts = universities of Renaissance
Catholic Encyl. Italy. b. Borgs San Sepolero, Tuscany. The Summa is the 1st
known published book of Pacioli. The Summa was influenced
in a great measure by the Liber Abaci of Leonard of Pisa (Fiboracci)
(1202) + is an extension of the works of Jordannes de Nemore
(1236) + John de Sacrobosso (1256). The Divina Proportione
(Venice 1509) was written in collaboration with Leonardo de Vinci
+ is of interest to both artists + mathematicians.
He brought the mathematics of the unicersity into close
relation with that of artists + architects. Pecioli's great
contribution to civilization consisted in unearthing old material
on mathematics + systematizing + formulating it with
reference to the discovery of general truths + the operation
of general laws.
-The 1st great general work on mathematics printed, includes
treatises on arithmatic, algebra + geometry each being
considered from a somewhat scientific rather than practical
stondpoint. His was the 1st printed work to illustrate
verse of fol 36 full page cut the finger symbolism of numbers. The geometry follows
Euclids Book I very closely, but departs quite
radically from the subsequent books. THe work had a
great influence on subsequent writer including the
Englishman Tonstall.
Pacioli had been a tutor in the family of a Cenetian merchand,
had traveled extensively, had come in contact with practical
mathematicians + had studied the ancient mathematics
in the cloisters. In 1497 he wrote at Milan a work
entitled. 'Divina proportione' which was published
at Venice in 1509 (8a, 52-5711) He also published
an ed. of Euclid at Venice in 1509.
-The book deserves spetial mention on account of its fine woodcut illustrations
+ especially the 1st page of text with its beautiful border, with the large
woodcut capital + dotted ground showing a monk with compass + book.