ANTONELLI, GIOVANNI. — Scolopian scientist, born at Candeglia, a suburb of Pistoia, on 10 January 1818, died at Florence on 14 January 1871. Having become a Scolopian on 7 November 1834, he was a disciple of Fr. Giovanni Inghirami, whom he succeeded in the chair of higher mathematics and astronomy and in the direction of the Specola Ximeniana in Florence. In his scientific teaching, A. continued the fine Scolopian traditions, distinguishing himself through his particular astronomical and meteorological observations. His idea of drawing assistance from the optical state of the atmosphere in order to investigate its meteorological condition is still judged exceptionally ingenious. In 1855 he published a work of great mathematical value on the concept of the infinite and infinitesimals as applied to differential calculus: Di un nuovo modo di trattare il calcolo differenziale col principio infinitesimale. The following year he presented the Accademia dei Georgofili with an original essay on geometrical ideology.
With a Galilean spirit, he sought to put his theoretical principles into practice, applying them, in their copious variety, to problems of higher mathematics, physics, and mechanics. Worthy of note are his studies aimed at perfecting the celebrated invention of the internal-combustion engine, due to the confrère Eugenio Barsanti, and the other ingenious machine for making better use of the power of steam, which he himself devised in collaboration with Fr. Cecchi.
As an astronomer, he diligently restored in S. Maria del Fiore the famous gnomon of Paolo Toscanelli; he anticipated Clarck in observing the satellite of Sirius and devoted himself to interpreting the scientific problems of the Divina Commedia, compiling the classical notes inserted by Tommaso in his commentary on the poem.
A.’s versatile intellect also distinguished itself in solving the hydraulic problems involved in reclaiming the marsh of Fucecchio and regulating Lake Orbetello. A special characteristic of Antonelli’s scientific activity was the application of his studies in mathematics and geodesy to the drafting of plans for new railway lines. The plans for the lines from Florence to Lake Trasimeno via Arezzo and from Florence to Faenza are substantially his own.