Giovanni Branca

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For other persons named Branca, see Branca (disambiguation).

**Giovanni Branca**
Born	22 April 1571 San Angelo in Lizzola, Pesaro
Died	24 January 1645 Loreto
Residence	Loreto
Nationality	Italy
Field	Engineer, Architect

Giovanni Branca, an Italian engineer and architect, born in April 22 1571 to January 24, 1645. 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 & architecture: Le Machine and the Manuale d’Architettura.

1 Le Machine
2 Manuale d’Architettura
3 Influential of Branca's work
4 References
5 External links

[edit] Le Machine

The most notable devide which he suggested in the Le Machine, is a windmill-like device known as Stamping Mall. It was 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 clear picture of a steam turbine. But it was only a concept; he didn't actually build it.

Le Machine 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. (496) ^[1] 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.

The theoretical innocence of his work is somewhat surprising. As evidenced by two extant letters, 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 (503) ^[2]

[edit] Manuale d’Architettura

Most of his architure works are the detailed architectural renderings of Jacques Besson & Androuet du Cerceau.

[edit] Influential of Branca's work

It’s 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. ^[3]

[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).