Maria Gaetana Agnesi (Q1203016)

Agnesi (1718--1799), linguistic and scientific prodigy, mathematician and author of a textbook of 1748 on the calculus (her only publication), nominal Professor of Mathematics at Bologna University, and religious recluse and teacher for much of her later life, is the subject of this article. It is confined to her life and career, and activities of certain contemporaries. The reception of her book -- which included translations into French in 1775 and English 1801 -- are recorded; however, very little discussion of the contents is made (which is quite out of line for this journal); for example, the curve which is now (incorrectly) named after her is not described. Thus, while the book is generally conservative in its contents, some aspects of her work received praise; for example, from S. F. Lacroix, on the subordination of infinitesimals in her analysis of curves (Traité du calcul différentiel et du calcul intégral, second ed., vol. 1 (1810, Paris), 489, doubtless drawing upon the French edition).