MASCHERONI, LORENZO. – Priest, poet, and mathematician, born at Castagneta (Bergamo) on 13 May 1750, died in Paris on 14 July 1800. He taught rhetoric and later physics at the Bergamo Seminary. Subsequently, he held the chair of algebra and geometry at the University of Pavia, of which he served twice as rector. He was elected deputy to the Legislative Body of the Cisalpine Republic, drafting a plan for public education, and in Paris he was a member of the commission charged with drafting the new system of weights and measures.
Author of noteworthy scientific memoirs, Mascheroni composed numerous occasional and sacred poems in Italian and Latin, including the poem under consideration, *La fabbricazione degli strumenti de' martiri*. Some of his poetry is inspired by sentiments of genuine piety. In the terza rima sermon *La falsa eloquenza del pulito*, he advocates a type of sacred eloquence that is more sober and faithful to the sacred texts. His fame rests on the didactic poem *L’invito a Lesbia Cidonia*, addressed to the noblewoman and poetess from Bergamo, Paolina Secco Suardi Grismondi, inviting her to visit the scientific museums of the University of Pavia, through which the poet guides her with learned elegance. Mascheroni’s upright character was extolled by Monti in the poem *La Mascheroniana*.