The provocative poetry of Galileo Galilei

Abstract

This article focuses on Galileo’s poetic – sparing but enjoyable – production, which in general has been disregarded in comparison to the numerous studies of his work as a physicist, mathematician and astronomer. In particular, this contribution analyzes Galileo’s long poem Capitolo contro il portar la toga (‘Against the Donning of the Gown’), written by the great scientist in Dante’s terza rima but in the parodic spirit of Francesco Berni’s poetry and Ludovico Ariosto’s Satires, mocking the custom of professors at the University of Pisa of wearing the academic gown. The Capitolo is mainly a witty divertissement, both linguistically reckless (often based on the figure of the calembour) and thematically daring for its sexual allusions. At the same time, it represents a ‘counterbalance’ to Galileo’s very committed scientific research; overall, a moment of private pleasure that would be easily extended to an intelligent circle of letterati, perfectly in tune with the best Florentine tradition.