Dorotea Bocchi (1360–1436) (also sometimes referred to as Dorotea Bucca) was an Italian noblewoman known for studying medicine and philosophy. Dorotea was associated with the

University of Bologna The University of Bologna (, abbreviated Unibo) is a Public university, public research university in Bologna, Italy. Teaching began around 1088, with the university becoming organised as guilds of students () by the late 12th century. It is the ...

, though there are differing beliefs regarding the extent of her participation at the university ranging, from whether she taught or held a position there.Tommaso Duranti,
Dorotea Bocchi. Di donne, università medievali e internet
"Storicamente", 15-16 (2019-2020), no. 55. DOI: 10.12977/stor801'' Despite these debates, there is consensus that she flourished and was active at the university for more than 40 years, beginning from 1390 onwards.Brooklyn Museum: Elizabeth A. Sackler Center for Feminist Art: The Dinner Party: Heritage Floor: Dorotea Bucca
(accessed 22 August 2007)Jex-Blake S (1873) 'The medical education of women', republished in ''The Education Papers: Women's Quest for Equality, 1850–1912'' (Spender D, ed) p. 270
(accessed 22 August 2007)Frize, Monique. ''Laura Bassi and Science in 18th Century Europe: The Extraordinary Life and Role of Italy’s Pioneering Female Professor''. New York, NY: Springer, 2013.

Dorotea and Her Family

Dorotea's father, Giovanni di Bocchino Bocchi, was a Professor of Medicine at the University of Bologna. Confirmed through the genealogy chart created by Giovanni Niccolò Pasquali Alidosi, Dorotea was included as one of Giovanni Bocchi’s children. Her mother was Ghisia da Saliceto. The number of her siblings is not easily found, but such sources indicate that she was one of several. In terms of marriage, Dorotea was married twice. First to Bartolomeo Carlini and then to Giacomo Paltroni.

Father and Daughter Legacy at the University

In 1596, Francesco Serdonati, an Italian academic and expertise of grammar, commemorated Giovanni di Bocchino Bocchi for his tenure at the university and simultaneously praised Dorotea for her literacy and oration skills. Serdonati also articulated how both Dorotea and her father made decent profits with their academic pursuits. In 1620, Francesco Agostino Della Chiesa in the ''Theatro delle Donne'' asserted that Dorotea’s teaching experience began in 1419, and librarian Ludovico Maria Montefani Caprara of the Institute of Sciences of Bologna also affirmed that in 1420 Dorotea began to teach philosophy. Such pursuits indicate that Dorotea followed in the footsteps of her father. According to Brooklyn Museum and Scholar Monique Frize, Dorotea took after her father by becoming both a professor of philosophy and medicine.

Debates on Dorotea

Serdonati stated that Dorotea only studied philosophy. Art Historian Caroline P. Murphy, Historian Leigh Whaley, and Historian Gabriella Berti Logan confirm that Dorotea studied medicine. Meanwhile, Professor of Engineering and Information Technology Monique Frize affirm that Dorotea studied both. It was common during this time period for the university faculty at Bologna to study in both the discipline of medicine and philosophy. The Italian historian Tommaso Duranti however doubts the historical existence of Bucca and considers her fictional creation designed to increase the fame of the university and associated families. Among the scholars who affirm and accept Dorotea as a historical figure include: Art Historian Caroline P. Murphy, Historian Leigh Whaley, Historian Gabriella Berti Logan, and Dr. Monique Frize.

Notable Artwork on Dorotea

In 1606, Pablo de Ribera, a Lateran canon, included Dorotea in a cohort of portraits titled ''Le Glorie Immortali'' to depict exceptional women. Between the time period of 1680 and 1690, a sculptor from Casa Fibbia included Dorotea in a cohort of Bolognese women, which provides a plausible image of Dorotea's appearance.

Comparisons and Connections to Other Historical Women

Before the 19th century, Italy was notorious for having a more open liberal attitude towards educating women in medical fields compared to England. Examples of the active participation and contribution of Italian women in Italy includes

Anna Morandi Manzolini Anna Morandi Manzolini (21 January 1714 – 9 July 1774) was an Italian anatomist, anatomical wax modeler, and lecturer of anatomical design at the University of Bologna. She became internationally known for the production of anatomical wax mode ...

, a former Professor of Anatomy at the University of Bologna in 1760,

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(11th century),

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, Alessandra Giliani,

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(14th century),

Constance Calenda Constance Calenda ( or ; ) was an Italian surgeon specializing in diseases of the eye.Calrice di Durisio (15th century), Constanza,

Maria Incarnata Maria may refer to: People * Mary, mother of Jesus * Maria (given name), a popular given name in many languages Place names Extraterrestrial *170 Maria, a Main belt S-type asteroid discovered in 1877 *Lunar maria (plural of ''mare''), large, da ...

and Thomasia de Mattio. In the context of Dorotea, while some attribute Dorotea as the first woman to be a university teacher at the University of Bologna and as a predecessor of other notable women at the university, other scholars believe the first to hold this title was

Laura Bassi Laura Maria Caterina Bassi Veratti (29 October 1711 – 20 February 1778) was an Italian physicist and academic. Recognized and depicted as "Minerva" (goddess of wisdom), she was the first woman to have a doctorate in science, and List of women ...

.Barone, Arturo. ''The Italian Achievement: An A-Z of Over 1000 'firsts' Achieved by Italians in Almost Every Aspect of Life Over the Last 1000 Years'', ed. Renaissance 2007, p. 141

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Bucca, Dorotea 1360 births 1436 deaths 15th-century Italian physicians Medieval women physicians Academic staff of the University of Bologna 14th-century Italian women 14th-century educators 15th-century educators 14th-century Italian physicians 15th-century Italian women