Drawing of the dial

In December 1473, in Mantua was printed a little book in which the mantuan Pietro Adamo de 'Micheli described the functions, the purpose and the symbolism of the astronomical clock. He has been called a singular character indeed. He studied law in Ferrara but was also largely self-taught. As an author, we know only this text, which offers him the opportunity to demonstrate his lyric quality and his undoubted scientific and technical knowledge.
Pietro Adamo was also the first Mantua publisher, leading to the printing in 1472 a Tractatus Maleficiorum and later the Decameron. It was certainly facilitated by a distant relationship with the Gonzaga family, which allowed him to have a good favor for his activities.
"Here Piero Adamo depicts all the effects & demonstration of this admirable & singular work called clock."
The treatise on the clock is further illustrated by two embossed china designs, which probably derive from another mutilated little book. The most interesting is the quadrant, in which stands the central goddess, accompanied by the fawn and the crescent moon.