Iacopo da San Cassiano

Iacopo da San Cassiano (between 1395 and 1410 – c. 1454), also known as Iacobus Cremonensis, was an Italian humanist and mathematician.

He translated from Greek to Latin the writings of Archimedes and parts of Diodorus' Bibliotheca historica.

In 1440 he was a student of the Faculty of Arts in Pavia, where he probably accompanied Gianlucido Gonzaga (son of the Marquis of Mantua Gianfrancesco), who studied law at the same university.

In Pavia he met important Quattrocento Italian humanists, including Francesco Filelfo, Catone Sacco, Giovanni Marliani, and the Greek Scholar Teodoro Gaza.

At the court of Nicholas V, he was entrusted with various scientific tasks, including revising the translation and commentary of the Almagest done by Trapezuntius.

Incipit of Iacopo's Latin translation of Book XI Diodorus Bibliotheca Historica Book XI, dedicated to the Pope Nicholas V. British Library, ms. Harley 4916, f. 3r. At the bottom, the coat of arms of Pedro Ferriz, bishop of Tarragona (Spain).
Portrait of Francesco Gonzaga by Andrea Mantegna , c. 1461.