Early Life | Galileo Galilei (1564-1642)

We have said that in withdrawing his son from Vallombrosa Vincenzio Galilei had other designs for him; but at first they were not very ambitious. Vincenzio, although of noble birth, had no property, his ncome from trade was scanty and precarious, and his family was large. Under these circum-stances he destined his son to a career by no means distinguished, though one that conferred wealth on Florence, and herefore held in no small esteem by her citizens — the boy was to be a cloth-dealer.

Now it must be told that from his early boyhood Galileo was remarkable for intellectual aptitudes of various kinds, coupled with considerable mechanical inventiveness. His favorite pastime was the construction of toy-machines, not the less ingenious because they did not always work. As he grew up he learnt from his father something of the theory and practice of music, and became so skillful with the lute as to excel him, good performer as he was, "in charm of style and delicacy of touch." He was also, it is said, a creditable performer on the organ and one or two other instruments, but the lute was his favorite, and continued to be so through life.

As he found it a pleasure in youth, so it was a great solace in his later years — especially when blindness was added to his other afflictions.

In the sister art his talent was equally striking, and as a lad he showed considerable skill in drawing and painting. In later life he used to tell his friends that, had circumstances permitted him to choose his own career, he would have elected to become a painter. So well-known was his youthful talent as draughtsman and colourist that such acknowledged artists as Ludovico Cigoli, Bronzino, Passignano, and Jacopo da Empoli, often sought his criticism of their works. Cigoli, in particular, was wont to say that Galileo alone had been his teacher in the art of perspective, and that whatever credit he enjoyed as a painter was owing to his advice and encouragement.

In his youthful days Galileo was also very fond of poetry, and later on in these pages we shall have occasion to notice his essays on Dante, Ariosto, and Tasso, as well as some verses and the fragment of a play, all of which bear witness to, at least, a cultivated taste.

In view of these great and varied abilities thus early displayed (to which we must not forget to add a good knowledge of Greek and Latin), the father could not help concluding that his son was born to be something better than a seller of cloths, and he now resolved upon a scientific career. As, however, it was necessary that the branch selected should offer a prospect of profit, and as he had himself had experience of the unremunerativeness of mathematics and music, the profession of medicine was decided on. Accordingly, on 5th September 1581, when seventeen and a half years old, Galileo was sent to study medicine at the University of Pisa .

Excerpted from “Galileo, his life and work” by Fahie, J.J. (1834-1934). Online at archive.org

Excerpted from “Galileo, his life and work” by Fahie, J.J. (1834-1934). Online at archive.org

Thumbnail image: Justus Sustermans/ Portrait of Galileo Galilei/Public Domain