Arismetrica: Valle Siculi 1485 - 1505

"Arismetrica: Valle Siculi" is a book made by Nicolaus Valla. We don’t know when, but it shows his interest in arithmetic. This image is from the book's title page, showing a teacher, presumably Valla himself, instructing a class of students. In the 15th and 16th centuries, education was largely the domain of the Church, thus the teacher's robes. Looking closely, we can see an emphasis on geometry, signaled by the prominent triangle on the table. It speaks to a time when access to education was a privilege, influenced by gender, class, and social status. Although the figures are not individualized, the scene hints at the complex social dynamics and intellectual pursuits of the Renaissance. The act of learning, here, becomes an intimate look into the transmission of knowledge across generations. This image of teaching and learning invites us to reflect on who has access to knowledge, and what the consequences are when entire populations are excluded.