Croatian Systems Society (CROSS), Croatian Academy of Engineering (HATZ) and Faculty of Mechanical Engineering and Naval Architecture in Zagreb (FSB) have organized the Forum
“NEW INSIGHTS INTO THE LIFE AND WORK OF FAUST VRANČIĆ”
The Forum was held in the Great Hall of the Facultgy of Mechanical Engineering and Naval Architecture in Zagreb, Ivan Lučić Street 5.
Prof. Zvonimir Guzović, PhD, FSB Dean, opened the Forum with welcoming speech, in which he highlighted the importance of our great and renowned man Faust Vrančić, dubbed the Croatian Leonardo da Vinci.
Prof. Miljenko Šimpraga, PhD, University of Zagreb Vice-Rector for innovation, technology transfer and communications, also greeted the Forum, emphasizing the role of innovation in the development of the economy and country. He pointed it out as one of the particularly important tasks of the University and its constituents.
The working part of the Forum commenced with the lecture of Prof. Vladimir Andročec, PhD, HATZ President, „The Importance of Faust Vrančić for Croatia and the world“. The lecturer gave an overview of the age in which Faust Vrančić lived as well as of his contribution to the development of technics. The lecturer also gave a short perusal of the most important technical inventions and pointed out the inadequate assertion of Faust Frančić in Croatia as well as the necessity to change that state of affairs.
Prof. Gojko Nikolić, PhD, author of the monograph „The Life and Inventions of Faust Vrančić“, delivered the next lecture. He gave a detailed overview of three subjects. The first was dealing with the printing of the book Machinae Novae, the time of its publishing, the reasons for absence of the publisher’s name and year of publishing, the quality of the engraving and why there are quality and non-quality graphics from the painting perspective.
The second subject that the lecturer focussed on was the research of the origins of the ideas of inventions that Faust Vrančić had elaborated. He also presented the other authors’ solutions as well as upgrades and improvements which had been made by Faust Vrančić. Some technical details of constructions were shown that indicate Faust’s technical knowledge and his correct speculations. The lecturer pointed out the possibility that the Privileges, which Faust had requested from the sovereign, actually were his attempt at protection of his technical solutions that he had elaborated.
The third subject was the parachute Homo volans, the most important and the most disputed invention of Faust Vrančić. The lecturer pointed out that it was not Leonardo da Vinci but Martini who had drawn the first parachute sketch, and presented the comparison of Faust’s parachute with contemporary parachute designs, pointing out the similar technical solutions. The claim of Faust’s jump with his parachute was also analyzed. It was shown that in his book J. Wilkins had neither stated that Faust had jumped with parachute, nor had he mentioned him elsewhere. Wilkins had dealt with flying with artificial wings like Daedalus and Icarus.
Eventually the lecturer presented the current designs of objects, devices or components that have been derived from the ideas elaborated and conceptualized by Faust Vrančić in his book Machinae Novae.
