Alfonso Corti

Alfonso Corti was 28 years old when he wrote the first draft of his most famous work (Recherches sur l’organe de l’ouïe des mammifères) while in Paris, probably at the Sorbonne. His work was published in June 1851.

The name of Corti quickly became known throughout the world, and synonymous with the organ of hearing, thanks to Joseph Hyrtl and Albert Kölliker, who had been his teachers and mentors. With the present volume, coinciding with the bicentenary of Corti’s birth, we wanted to explore this man’s human and scientific history, the environment in Pavia and Europe where Corti grew up and conducted his research.