Raffaello Magiotti

During his life, Magiotti published only one work, entitled Renitenza dell’acqua alla compressione (Water's Resistance to Compression), which came out in 1648.

In addition to descriptions of various thermometers, the work also presents an illustration of the bell-jar divers, or "Cartesian devils", the discovery of which would then be attributed to the Tuscan scientist.

Magiotti played a role in the context of experimentation which preceded, and to a large extent, prepared the way, for the torricellian barometric experiments.

In a letter to Mersenne from 1648, he recalled that happy experimental period, and revealed that he had told Torricelli about the tests performed by Berti.

He also suggested the use of sea-water, which is more dense than fresh water, thus making possible the decisive choice of mercury in barometric experiments.