Venetian enlightenment
11 December 1712 3 may 1764 Francesco Algarotti born in Venice the day 11 December 1712 in a family of merchants. Initially he studied in Rome under the leadership of the religious architect Carlo Lodoli; Algarotti continues his studies in Bologna, where he faces broadly different scientific disciplines, with an emphasis on astronomy, under the guidance of Eustachio Manfredi. Finally, he moved to Florence to complete their preparation. He's only 23 years old when in 1735 starts to travel to Europe: reaches Paris, cultural center of the continent, where he met several influential personalities. Algarotti was able to present its Newtonianesimo "for the ladies", a small work of popular science brilliant (it will be appreciated later by Voltaire, who from the work of his "Dear Swan of Padua"-as he used to in turn drew its Galileo corresponded with him-"elements of the philosophy of Newton") inspired by the work of French writer Bernard le Bovier de Fontenelle. After his time in France, Algarotti travels to England: stay for some time in London, where he was accepted into the prestigious scientific Academy "Royal Society". In England he established a friendship with the poet Alexander Pope. Back then in Italy where he began to devote their energies to the publication of the "Newtonianesimo"; After a short period spent in London again, he moved to Russia, where he visits different areas, with special attention to St. Petersburg. The relationship with the King Frederick II of Prussia becomes ever more closely so that the monarch wants the charming Algarotti both her partner in studies as in trips. The Italian spent at the Court of Emperor over a decade, to return to Venice in 1753. Open to progress and rational knowledge, Algarotti is an expert in Arts (works wonders as an advocate of Palladium). In Venice is regarded as a sort of Socrates. His fame as a scholar is proportional to its thirst for knowledge and his wide field of interests. He spends the rest of his life moving between Venice, Bologna (where to encourage young scholars setting up the Academy of Indomitable) and Pisa. Preparing the publication of all his works, including "letters on Russia" and "Congress of Cythera", a novel dedicated to costumes galanti and amorous revisited as observed in various countries that had stayed: sick of ETIS Francesco Algarotti dies in Pisa at the age of fifty-three years, day 3 may 1764. As epitaph would ask "Algarottus, sed non omnis': it is buried in the cemetery of Pisa, in a monument designed by the distinguished architect Carlo Bianconi and by the well-known bolognese painter--and close friend of Algarotti-" archeologizzante style "thesis, translated Maurino in marble by the then famous Abbot Giovanni Antonio Cybei of Carrara. The epitaph was dictated by the King of Prussia: "Algarotto aemulo, Neutonii Ovidii discipulo, Federicus rex"; the heirs changed then "rex" in "magnus".