- Friedrich Risner
Friedrich Risner (died 1580) was a German mathematician from Hersfeld [http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/e/e0/De_Merian_Hassiae_128.jpg] ,
Hesse . He was a student ofPetrus Ramus (1515-1572) and was the first chair of mathematics at Collège Royale de France. The exact year of Risner's birth is unknown, however it is believed to be around the year 1520.He is known for his 1572 publication of "Opticae thesaurus: Alhazeni Arabis libri septem, nuncprimum editi; Eiusdem liber De Crepusculis et nubium ascensionibus, Item Vitellonis Thuringopoloni libri X", which was an edition of the works of
Ibn al-Haitham and Erazmus CiolekWitelo , who were both early pioneers in the study ofoptics . This publication was a major benefit to several famous mathematicians and scientists, includingKepler , Huygens, andDescartes .Risner was the first to propose the idea of a portable
camera obscura , which purportedly was to be used to help create artistic topographical drawings. His idea consisted of a lightweight wooden hut that had small holes fitted with lenses in each wall, and a cube of paper placed in the centre for drawing.References
* [http://www.portfolio.mvm.ed.ac.uk/studentwebs/session2/group60/history.htm The Foundations of an Art; A "Prehistory" of Photography]
* Friedrich Risner, Ed., Opticae thesaurus, Basel, 1572; with introduction by David Lindberg, NY: Johnson Reprint, 1972
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