Giovanni Branca

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For other persons named Branca, see Branca (disambiguation).
Giovanni Branca
Born 22 April 1571(1571-04-22)
Sant'Angelo in Lizzola
Died 24 January 1645 (aged 73)
Loreto
Residence Loreto
Nationality Italy
Fields Engineer, Architect

Giovanni Branca (April 22, 1571-January 24, 1645) was an Italian engineer and architect.

At the 16th century, a new type of book appeared which evolved into an entire genre of literature known as the Theater of machines. Branca gave the world a different look on the theatrum machinarum genre. His works represented a new way of thinking that was cultivated during the Renaissance. Mathematical principles could be applied to the development of new machines and new technical achievements that were appropriate considerations for monarchs and the upper class. In 1629, Branca created two particularly well-known works for historians of machinery and architecture: Le Machine("The Machines")[1][2] and the Manuale d’Architettura.

==Le Machine== The most notable device which he suggested in the Le Machine, is a windmill-like device known as Stamping Mall. The 25th plate in the book depicts a sufflator blowing steam onto blades of a turbine wheel, which, in turn, drove a pair of pestles. This concept derive from the intricate designs of Agostino Ramelli. Stamping Mall has the same concept as modern steam turbines. Even though he has drawn a rough prototype of a steam turbine[3], it was only a concept and no actual engines were made.

Le Machine , with its 63 engravings accompanied by text in Latin and Italian, was frequently reprinted and introducted to the field of architecture and machinery. Despite its popularity, his manuals remain largely unstudied due to his use of woodcuts. As quoted from Renaissance Theatres of Machines: "Branca’s Le Machine is less rich in material and less beautiful, but not without repute."[4] Woodcuts were primarily used at north of the Alps. The theory of his works seem to be emerged from the pseudo-Aristotelian Mechanical Problems and notes of Heron of Alexandria, developed by Giovanni Battista della Porta. Unlike earlier inventors, Branca does not claims to be the creator of many of the machines. In some instances, he even expresses uncertainty over how the machine is supposed to operate.

Branca communicated with Benedetto Castelli and references his work in the last chapter of his architectural manual, a chapter about rivers. Castelli, often considered to be the founder of the field of hydrodynamics, wrote to Branca urging him to defend himself against naïve or interested parties such as the Venetians who had rejected Castelli’s opinions as to why their lagoons were silting. On another occasion, Branca wrote to Castelli regarding a design for a nozzle for an inverted siphon to be installed in a fountain. Castelli also witnessed the ecclesiastical innocence of Le Machine for the inquisition.

Branca’s machine book stands as an interesting mid-point in the spectrum of the genre’s development. As an octavo with woodcuts, it was clearly destines for less well appointed libraries. It also lacks the detail of later works. It does not, for example, contain the measurements provided by Zonca (Keller also notes that Ramelli didn’t even bother to count teeth in his gearing mechanisms!). As quoted from Renaissance Theatres of Machines: Branca’s machine "looks like armchair inventions which seldom ever had any three-dimensional working counterparts" [5]

Contents

[edit] Manuale d’Architettura

Branca's experience as an architect was due to his posting as superintendent of works of the House of Santa Maria di Loreto, to which he was appointed by the Duke of Urbino [6]. Most of his architure works are the detailed architectural renderings of Jacques Besson and Androuet du Cerceau. It was republished in 1772 by Leonardo de Vegni[7].

[edit] Influence of Branca's work

It is unclear how influential Branca’s work was. But it was known that Hooke owned a copy of Branca’s work and the auction list may even contain a price which could be compared to Besson. [8]

[edit] References

  • Keller, A.G. (1978). Renaissance Theatres of Machines. Technology and Culture.
  • McGee, Sarah (2000). Bernini’s Books. The Burlington Magazine. 142.1168: 442-448.
  • Branca, Giovanni. Le machine... Rome, 1629 (copy in SIL).
  1. ^ Full title: Le Machine volume nuovo, et di molto artificio da fare effetti maravigliosi tanto Spiritali quanto di Animale Operatione, arichito di bellissime figure. Del Sig. Giovanni Branca, Cittadino Romano. In Roma, 1629 as cited in Dionysius Lardner's book: The Steam Engine, Steam Navigation, Roads, and Railways, Explained and Illustrated (1851) London. Page 19. [1]
  2. ^ Also referred to as Le Machine deverse (sic) del Signior Giovanni Branca, cittadino Romano, Ingegniero, Architetto della Santa Casa di Loreto in RH Thurston's The Growth of the Steam-engine (1878)[2]
  3. ^ D. Lardner. p20.
  4. ^ Keller, A.G. (1978). Renaissance Theatres of Machines. Technology and Culture.
  5. ^ Keller, A.G. (1978). Renaissance Theatres of Machines. Technology and Culture.
  6. '^ Ticozzi, Stefano (1830). Dizionario degli architetti, scultori, pittori, intagliatori in rame ed in pietra, coniatori di medaglie, musaicisti, niellatori, intarsiatori d’ogni etá e d’ogni nazione (Volume 1). Gaetano Schiepatti; Digitized by Googlebooks, Jan 24, 2007, page 211. 
  7. ^ S. Ticozzi, p. 211
  8. ^ McGee, Sarah (2000). Bernini’s Books. The Burlington Magazine. 142.1168: 442-448.

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