Dorotea Bucca

Dorotea Bocchi (1360–1436) (also sometimes referred to as Dorotea Bucca) was an Italian noblewoman known for studying medicine and philosophy. Dorotea was associated with the University of Bologna, though there are differing beliefs regarding the extent of her participation at the university ranging, from whether she taught or held a position there. Despite these debates, there is consensus that she flourished and was active at the university for more than 40 years, beginning from 1390 onwards.

Dorotea and Her Family
Dorotea's father, Giovanni di Bocchino Bocchi, was a Professor of Medicine at the University of Bologna. Confirmed through the genealogy chart created by Giovanni Niccolò Pasquali Alidosi, Dorotea was included as one of Giovanni Bocchi’s children. Her mother was Ghisia da Saliceto. The number of her siblings is not easily found, but such sources indicate that she was one of several.

In terms of marriage, Dorotea was married twice. First to Bartolomeo Carlini and then to Giacomo Paltroni.

Father and Daughter Legacy at the University
In 1596, Francesco Serdonati, an Italian academic and expertise of grammar, commemorated Giovanni di Bocchino Bocchi for his tenure at the university and simultaneously praised Dorotea for her literacy and oration skills. Serdonati also articulated how both Dorotea and her father made decent profits with their academic pursuits.

In 1620, Francesco Agostino Della Chiesa in the Theatro delle Donne asserted that Dorotea’s teaching experience began in 1419, and librarian Ludovico Maria Montefani Caprara of the Institute of Sciences of Bologna also affirmed that in 1420 Dorotea began to teach philosophy. Such pursuits indicate that Dorotea followed in the footsteps of her father. According to Brooklyn Museum and Scholar Monique Frize, Dorotea took after her father by becoming both a professor of philosophy and medicine.

Debates on Dorotea
Sedronati stated that Dorotea only studied philosophy. Art Historian Caroline P. Murphy, Historian Leigh Whaley, and Historian Gabriella Berti Logan confirm that Dorotea studied medicine. Meanwhile, Professor of Engineering and Information Technology Monique Frize affirm that Dorotea studied both. It was common during this time period for the university faculty at Bologna to study in both the discipline of medicine and philosophy.

The Italian historian Tommaso Duranti however doubts the historical existence of Bucca and considers her fictional creation designed to increase the fame of the university and associated families. Among the scholars who affirm and accept Dorotea as a historical figure include: Art Historian Caroline P. Murphy, Historian Leigh Whaley, Historian Gabriella Berti Logan, and Dr. Monique Frize.

Notable Artwork on Dorotea
In 1606, Pablo de Ribera, a Lateran canon, included Dorotea in a cohort of portraits titled Le Glorie Immortali to depict exceptional women. Between the time period of 1680 and 1690, a sculptor from Casa Fibbia included Dorotea in a cohort of Bolognese women, which provides a plausible image of Dorotea's appearance.

Comparisons and Connections to Other Historical Women
Before the 19th century, Italy was notorious for having a more open liberal attitude towards educating women in medical fields compared to England. Examples of the active participation and contribution of Italian women in Italy includes Anna Morandi Manzolini, a former Professor of Anatomy at the University of Bologna in 1760, Trotula of Salerno (11th century), Abella, Jacobina Félicie, Alessandra Giliani, Rebecca de Guarna, Margarita, Mercuriade (14th century), Constance Calenda, Calrice di Durisio (15th century), Constanza, Maria Incarnata and Thomasia de Mattio.

In the context of Dorotea, while some attribute Dorotea as the first woman to be a university teacher at the University of Bologna and as a predecessor of other notable women at the university, other scholars believe the first to hold this title was Laura Bassi.