Giornali, Accademie e Traduzioni: il successo europeo delle "Instituzioni Analitiche" di Maria Gaetana Agnesi

This article will highlight some aspects of Agnesi’s mathematical work "Instituzioni Analitiche ad uso della gioventù italiana" (1748) and the reasons for its success in Italy and abroad. The genetic approach to the archival and printed sources, such as manuscripts and publications by Agnesi, Rampinelli and Riccati family, the inventory of Agnesi’s library, and the correspondences enable us to understand and clarify the dynamics of ideation and production of the mathematical knowledge in her treatise. On the other hand, translations in French (1775) and English (1801) and reviews in European journals help to focus the social motives why it was chosen by the academies to educate youth. Finally it is noted that the appeal from Colson to British women to imitate the example of Agnesi, passionate scholar of mathematics and creative author, was reiterated on several British journals.