ABSTRACT
In her famous book on mathematics, Maria Gaetana Agnesi summarized the principles of calculus and introduced to the wider world a curve that was called la Versiera. As a young child Agnesi enchanted the literati of her beautiful city of Milan, by her talks and interpretations of contemporary mathematics. Agnesi was one such admirer but also a contributor to Newtonian science. In 1750 Agnesi was appointed as a first female professor to the chair of mathematics. This position was based at the University of Bologna and the appointment came from Pope Benedict XIV no less. The fact is that there were women at the same time Algarotti wrote his book, like Laura Bassi and Agnesi, doing real science and mathematics. They were known and celebrated, and even supported at the very top of their society to partake fully in the intellectual life of their country.
