Sanctorius Sanctorius: Between Koper and Venice

Abstract

AbstractBy way of introduction, this chapter gives a biographical account of Sanctorius that situates him in his social, institutional, and professional context. The chapter critically evaluates the existing biographies of the Venetian physician and complements them with my own research on the primary sources. Episodes in Sanctorius’s life that have hitherto received little or no attention are discussed in more detail. This opens up a new perspective on the life and work of Sanctorius, setting the stage for the more comprehensive reconsideration of his work to be found in the following chapters.