Biographies > Disciples
Clemente Settimi
(1612-?)
One of the many Scolopian
followers of the ideas of Galileo Galilei (1564-1642),
he taught geometry privately in Florence to Carlo Dati
(1619-1676) and to the very young Vincenzo Viviani (1622-1703). He was repeatedly denounced to the
Holy Office, also as a follower of
Galileo and, although absolved, was always persecuted. He assisted
Galileo with affection during the last years of his life. To him the Pisan scientist, now totally blind, dictated the letters
addressed to his closest collaborators, such as Bonaventura Cavalieri
(1598-1647) and Evangelista Torricelli (1608-1647), with whom Settimi was on friendly terms. On the pretext of a
promotion he was sent to Sicily in
1641-42, where all trace of him was lost.