Mathematical Treasure: Benedetto da Firenze’s Trattato d’abacho

Benedetto da Firenze (1429–1479) is credited as the author of an illustrated manuscript, Trattato d’abacho, that was copied around 1480. Perhaps this work was based on his previous, unpublished manuscript. The practice of encasing computations in red ink is similar in both works, but a textual analysis would be needed to verify this premise.

First page of text:

Several pages of “multiplication facts” follow; here is an example:

Two algorithms for the multiplication of two multi-digit numbers are illustrated.

Examples of highlighted computations:

A collection of illustrated problem situations is then presented for the reader’s practice. These are standard medieval problems which can be identified from the illustrations. The viewer may speculate as to the situations and the required mathematics to obtain solutions.

A discussion about convex polyhedra:

A full digitization is available from Museo Galileo. See also this section of one of the museum’s online exhibits. Benedetto’s Trattato d’arismetricha (ca 1460) may also be viewed in Convergence.

Index to Mathematical Treasures