Marianos taccola biography of williams

(b. Siena, Italy, 4 February 1381; d. Siena, 1453/1458)

mechanics.

The nickname Taccola, meaning “crow” and referring to a talent for woodcarving, was inherited by Mariano from his father, a winegrower.

Taccola’s first profession was that of sculptor, and he contributed to the carving of the choir of Siena cathedral in 1408. He was active in civic life from at least 1413 and partially qualified as a notary in 1417.

Marianos taccola biography of williams brothers

From 1424 to 1431 he was chamberlain of the Casa della Sapienza, a residence for scholars at Siena.

By 1427 Taccola seems to have become intensely interested in mechanical technology, a field to which he devoted most of his time for the rest of his life.

His earliest dated sketches of machines are from 1427, when he also conducted practical tests of four of his inventions. The trials included a project for erecting a bridge over the Tiber at Rome and one for harborworks at Genoa.

The visit to Siena in 1432–1433 of the future emperor Si