Jean François Niceron and Emmanuel Maignan. Two Minims,  between Science and Faith. Deceptive fruits of an ‘artificial magic’

Domenico Mediati

doi:10.26375/disegno.13.2023.26

Authors

Domenico Mediati Department of Architecture and Territory, Mediterranea University of Reggio Calabria

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.26375/disegno.13.2023.26

Abstract

Deception and mathematical rigor: two seemingly antithetical dimensions. Yet sometimes oxymorons are reconciled. This is the subtext of the exhibition Jean François Niceron and Emmanuel Maignan. Two Minims, between Science and Faith, curated by Alessio Bortot, Agostino De Rosa and Imago rerum, which opened on October 7, 2023, at the shrine of St. Francesco di Paola [1]. The exhibition traces the studies carried out by the two French Minims in the 17th century between the convent of SS. Trinità dei Monti in Rome and the Mother House of the Minims in place Royale (now place des Vosges) in Paris, which was almost destroyed in the late 19^th and early 20^th centuries. [read more]

References

Maignan, E. (n.d.). Mathematica Pamphilianos hortos exornans. In Miscellanea de negotijj passati per mani mie sub Innocentio PP X. Archivio di Stato di Roma, Archivio Spada 235, cc. 627-630.

Maignan, E. (1648). Perspectiva horaria, sive de orographia gnomonica tum theorethica tum pratica libri quattuor. Roma: Typis, & Expenfis Philippi Rubei.

Niceron, J.F. (1638). La Perspective Curieuse ou Magie Artificielle des effets Merveilleux: de l’optique, par la vision directe, la catoptrique, par la reflexion des miroirs plats. Paris: Pierre Billaine.

Niceron, J.F. (1646). Thaumaturgus opticus, seu Admiranda Optices, per radium directum: Catoptrices, per reflexum e politis corporibus, planis, cylindricis, conicis, polyedris, polygonis & aliis: Dioptrices, per refractum in diaphanis. Ad eminmum cardinalem Mazarinum. Paris: Langlois.