Girolamo Cardano. Coloured portrait of Girolamo Cardano (1501-76), Italian mathematician and physician. Cardano was the illegitimate son of a Milanese

---

Girolamo Cardano. Coloured portrait of Girolamo Cardano (1501-76), Italian mathematician and physician. Cardano was the illegitimate son of a Milanese lawyer, and his birth held back his career as a talented physician. He is best known, however, as one of the greatest algebraists of his time. He recognised both negative and complex roots of equations, and gave a general algebraic method for solving cubic equations (Cardano's solution). He was accused of plagiarism by Tartaglia, but such claims have been contested. He was also a major figure in chemical thought.

---

Size: 3160px × 3880px
Photo credit: © Science Photo Library / Alamy / Afripics
License: Licensed
Model Released: No

Keywords: algebra, cardan, cardano, cardanos, creator, girolamo, jerome, mathematician, physician, portraits, solution, surname