The Dubrovnik Museums opened the exhibition "Marin Getaldić: On the 400th Anniversary of His Death" at the Rector's Palace on Friday, 19 June 2026. The exhibition was authored by Dr. Ivica Martinović, with Ivona Michl, Senior Museum Curator, serving as the exhibition curator.
The exhibition presents the intellectual biography of Marin Getaldić (1568–1626), showcasing the complete literary and scientific output of this distinguished citizen of Dubrovnik, from his epigrams published in 1599 to his principal work, published posthumously in 1630. At the same time, it tells the story of his family history and his advancement through the noble offices of the Republic of Dubrovnik, from Captain of Janjina to a member of the Minor Council. Visitors also have the opportunity to explore the highlights of the European reception of Getaldić's work in Italy, Germany, and England, tracing its influence from Christopher Clavius through Robert Boyle, Baglivi, and Ruđer Bošković, spanning the period from 1603 to 1760.
The final section of the exhibition, entitled "Dubrovnik's Tributes", illustrates the many ways in which Dubrovnik has honoured Getaldić from the nineteenth to the twenty-first century through poetry, biography, visual arts, institutions, and scholarly research.
On the occasion of the 400th anniversary of the death of Marin Getaldić (1568–1626)—recorded in archival documents as Marinus Matthæi de Ghettaldis, appearing on the title pages of his own works by his own choice as Marinus Ghetaldus, and only occasionally in Italian as Marino Ghetaldi—the renowned mathematician and physicist, restorer of Fort Pozvizd within the Ston fortification system (1604), tribute ambassador to Istanbul (1606–1607), and holder of the Republic's highest public offices during the final decade of his life (1615–1625), the City of Dubrovnik proclaimed 2026 the "Year of Marin Getaldić."
"Through his scientific work and innovative approach to research, he exerted a profound influence on the European scientific community of his time, and his legacy continues to represent an important part of both Croatian and European scientific heritage," said Dr. Ivica Martinović, adding:
"At the beginning of 1601, Getaldić devoted himself to the construction of parabolic burning mirrors and to optical experiments in Betina Cave at Ploče. The only surviving—and the largest—of Getaldić's parabolic mirrors, presented by Marin's brother Jakov to Cardinal Barberini as a token of gratitude, is now preserved at the National Maritime Museum in Greenwich, bearing witness to the international significance of his work.
During his lifetime, Getaldić published six works. His principal mathematical treatise, De resolutione et compositione mathematica (On Mathematical Analysis and Synthesis), was prepared for publication by the Dubrovnik Jesuit Ignjat Tudišević. It was printed at the personal expense of Cardinal Francesco Barberini, protector of the Republic of Dubrovnik, in 1630, following a request from Marin's youngest brother Jakov and Marin's three daughters."