Bortolo d'Alvise was a 16th-century
Italian
Italian(s) may refer to:
* Anything of, from, or related to the people of Italy over the centuries
** Italians, a Romance ethnic group related to or simply a citizen of the Italian Republic or Italian Kingdom
** Italian language, a Romance languag ...
scientific instrument maker.
He was a
Venetian glassmaker
Glass production involves two main methods – the float glass process that produces sheet glass, and glassblowing that produces bottles and other containers. It has been done in a variety of ways during the history of glass.
Glass container pro ...
who, thanks to the negotiations by Grand Duke
Cosimo I de' Medici
Cosimo I de' Medici (12 June 1519 – 21 April 1574) was the second and last duke of Florence from 1537 until 1569, when he became the first grand duke of Tuscany, a title he held until his death. Cosimo I succeeded his cousin to the duchy. ...
(1519–1574) with the
Venetian Republic
The Republic of Venice, officially the Most Serene Republic of Venice and traditionally known as La Serenissima, was a sovereign state and Maritime republics, maritime republic with its capital in Venice. Founded, according to tradition, in 697 ...
, was called to
Florence
Florence ( ; ) is the capital city of the Italy, Italian region of Tuscany. It is also the most populated city in Tuscany, with 362,353 inhabitants, and 989,460 in Metropolitan City of Florence, its metropolitan province as of 2025.
Florence ...
as a crystal-maker. He was documented in Florence as early as September 1569, and along with Jacomo and Alvise Della Luna was one of the finest Venetian glassmakers to settle in Florence.
[Ilardi, Vincent. Renaissance vision from spectacles to telescopes. Vol. 259. American Philosophical Society, 2007. p184] He remained there for about fourteen years, where he introduced new techniques. The inventory of his workshop records ''reticello'' (filigree) glass, engraved glass, ice glass, a gilded tray, and weave-pattern vases with handles.
References
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{{Authority control
Italian scientific instrument makers
16th-century Venetian people