Sforza & baths...

[Nick Pelling <incoming@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

Hi everyone,

I've just found a reference to what may be a missing link between the 
Sforza family and the balneological section of the VMS. In his 1965 
translation of Filarete's Treatise on Architecture, John Spencer mentions 
in a footnote (p.296):-

	"Further information on baths in Lombardy, their use by
	the Sforza, and particularly on the elaborate precautions
	taken by Francesco Sforza to take the waters at Bormio
	in 1462, are reported by Caterina Santoro, "Milano d'altri
	tempi", (Milan, 1938), pp. 199-203.

Luckily, the British Library (sadly not always the most complete repository 
of rare Italian books) has a copy of this book: I'll let you know what I 
find out from it when I get to see it:-

	Title:			Milano d'altri tempi. [With plates.]
	Main heading:		SANTORO. Caterina
	Publication details:	pp. 241. Milano, 1938. 8o.
	Shelfmark:		010136.ff.9.

Incidentally, Spencer also mentions (in a separate footnote) Francesco 
Sforza's interest in astrology:-

	"Francesco Sforza's opinions on astrology seem contradictory.
	It is well known that he kept at least three astrologers in his
	employ. In order to determine the best possible moment for
	taking possession of the Castello at Porta Giovia, he
	requested the precise birth date of his captain, Foschino de
	Attendola da Cotignola. (Beltrami, "Il Castello di Milano" 1894),
	pp.101-102 cites letter of December 26, 1451).  With this
	information the astrologers established the time to the minute.
	In a letter to his captain, Francesco transmitted this date but
	added "al che respondendo te dicimo chenon se curamo de
	tanta subtilita".  He is more concerned about that the moon
	be waxing rather than waning when the troops enter the new
	fortress (Beltrami, Castello, p 102).

Finally, I should perhaps also mention that Filarete makes explicit mention 
in his treatise (Book XX, f161v) of constructing a reservoir...

	: "?from which the water issued and descended through
	certain canals arranged in such a way that they made the
	mills turn and grind grain most rapidly. In addition to the
	mills, it beat iron and copper, polished arms, sharpened
	knives, and [did] other things. ? There were certain wheels
	that were turned by the force of the water to draw up
	merchandise to put into the ships and also to discharge
	them."

The more I look at the nine-rosette diagram, the more I see Quattrocento 
water engineering, typical of such engineers favoured by Filarete as 
Aristotile da Bologna (who Luca Beltrami also wrote a book on):-

	Title: Vita di Aristotile da Bologna.
	Main heading: BELTRAMI. Luca
	Additional headings: FIERAVANTI. Aristotele de'
	Publication details: pp. 130. Bologna, 1912. 8o.
	Shelfmark: 10633.cc.22.

Cheers, .....Nick Pelling.....

PS: note that I'm not 100% sure which of the following three "Castello di 
Milano"-related books/articles by Luca Beltrami in 1894 (all held by the 
British Library) Spencer is referring to:-

Title: Il Castello di Milano sotto il dominio degli Sforza MCCCLMDXXXV. 
[With plates.] pt. 1.
Title: Il Castello di Milano-Castrum Portæ Jovis-sotto il dominio dei 
Visconti e degli Sforza, 1368-1535. Con 178 incisioni e 5 tavole.
Main heading: BELTRAMI. Luca
Publication details: pp. 739. Milano, 1894. 8o.
Shelfmark: 10136.h.14.

Title: Guida storica del Castello di Milano 1368-1894, etc. [With a plan.]
Main heading: BELTRAMI. Luca
Publication details: pp. 136. pl. XII. Milano, 1894. 8o.
Shelfmark: 10130.aa.9.

Title: Cenni sulle trasformazioni edilizie del Castello (di Milano) dalla 
caduta degli Sforza ai nostri giorni.
Main heading: BELTRAMI. Luca
Shelfmark: 10129.h.9.
Notes: In. Mayno (L. del) Vicende militari del Castello di Milano, etc. 
1894. 8o.