Claim profile
1500–1599

The 16th century

Whose working lives fell in the 16th century. Books are measured from 1800 and readers from 2015, so for this period we can say who lived then, not who was talked about then.

Lived then

The most notable people whose working lives fell in the 16th century, ranked where Wikipedia coverage and readership agree.

CountryAll🇪🇸 Spain🇫🇷 France🇯🇵 Japan🇩🇪 Germany🇮🇹 Italy🇹🇷 Turkey🇬🇧 United Kingdom🇸🇪 Sweden🇨🇭 Switzerland🇮🇳 India
FieldAllHistorical FiguresWritersPoliticiansArtistsAcademicsReligious FiguresMusiciansScientistsModelsActors
  1. 1MichelangeloMichelangelo1475–1564 · 🇮🇹 Italy · Artists22 decades
  2. 2Galileo GalileiGalileo Galilei1564–1642 · 🇮🇹 Italy · Scientists22 decades
  3. 3Giordano BrunoGiordano Bruno1548–1600 · 🇮🇹 Italy · Academics22 decades
  4. 4RaphaelRaphael1483–1520 · 🇮🇹 Italy · Artists22 decades
  5. 5TitianTitian1490–1576 · 🇮🇹 Italy · Artists22 decades
  6. 6Lucrezia BorgiaLucrezia Borgia1480–1519 · 🇮🇹 Italy · Historical Figures22 decades
  7. 7Torquato TassoTorquato Tasso1544–1595 · 🇮🇹 Italy · Writers22 decades
  8. 8Giorgio VasariGiorgio Vasari1511–1574 · 🇮🇹 Italy · Artists22 decades
  9. 9Ludovico AriostoLudovico Ariosto1474–1533 · 🇮🇹 Italy · Writers22 decades
  10. 10Andrea PalladioAndrea Palladio1508–1580 · 🇮🇹 Italy · Architects22 decades
  11. 11Pope Sixtus VPope Sixtus V1521–1590 · 🇮🇹 Italy · Religious Figures22 decades
  12. 12Pope Paul VPope Paul V1552–1621 · 🇮🇹 Italy · Religious Figures22 decades
  13. 13Pope Gregory XIIIPope Gregory XIII1502–1585 · 🇮🇹 Italy · Religious Figures22 decades
  14. 14Cesare BorgiaCesare Borgia1475–1507 · 🇮🇹 Italy · Historical Figures22 decades
  15. 15Giovanni Pierluigi da PalestrinaGiovanni Pierluigi da Palestrina1525–1594 · 🇮🇹 Italy · Musicians16 decades
  16. 16TintorettoTintoretto1519–1594 · 🇮🇹 Italy · Artists22 decades
  17. 17Pope Julius IIIPope Julius III1487–1555 · 🇮🇹 Italy · Religious Figures22 decades
  18. 18Pope Pius VPope Pius V1504–1572 · 🇮🇹 Italy · Religious Figures8 decades
  19. 19Pope Pius IVPope Pius IV1499–1565 · 🇮🇹 Italy · Religious Figures22 decades
  20. 20Giuseppe ArcimboldoGiuseppe Arcimboldo1527–1593 · 🇮🇹 Italy · Artists4 decades
  21. 21Charles BorromeoCharles Borromeo1538–1584 · 🇮🇹 Italy · Religious Figures22 decades
  22. 22Pope Marcellus IIPope Marcellus II1501–1555 · 🇮🇹 Italy · Religious Figures19 decades
  23. 23Paolo VeronesePaolo Veronese1528–1588 · 🇮🇹 Italy · Artists22 decades
  24. 24Pope Urban VIIPope Urban VII1521–1590 · 🇮🇹 Italy · Religious Figures0 decades
  25. 25Sofonisba AnguissolaSofonisba Anguissola1532–1625 · 🇮🇹 Italy · Artists19 decades
  26. 26Pope Paul IVPope Paul IV1476–1559 · 🇮🇹 Italy · Religious Figures21 decades
  27. 27Matteo RicciMatteo Ricci1552–1610 · 🇮🇹 Italy · Historical Figures22 decades
  28. 28Pope Clement VIIIPope Clement VIII1536–1605 · 🇮🇹 Italy · Religious Figures21 decades
  29. 29Aloysius GonzagaAloysius Gonzaga1568–1591 · 🇮🇹 Italy · Religious Figures22 decades
  30. 30GiorgioneGiorgione1478–1510 · 🇮🇹 Italy · Artists22 decades
  31. 31Antonio da CorreggioAntonio da Correggio1489–1534 · 🇮🇹 Italy · Artists22 decades
  32. 32Robert BellarmineRobert Bellarmine1542–1621 · 🇮🇹 Italy · Religious Figures22 decades
  33. 33Pietro AretinoPietro Aretino1492–1556 · 🇮🇹 Italy · Writers22 decades
  34. 34ParmigianinoParmigianino1503–1540 · 🇮🇹 Italy · Artists22 decades
  35. 35PontormoPontormo1494–1556 · 🇮🇹 Italy · Artists22 decades
  36. 36Antonio PigafettaAntonio Pigafetta1490–1530 · 🇮🇹 Italy · Writers20 decades
  37. 37Gerolamo CardanoGerolamo Cardano1501–1576 · 🇮🇹 Italy · Academics19 decades
  38. 38Pietro BemboPietro Bembo1470–1547 · 🇮🇹 Italy · Religious Figures22 decades
  39. 39Baldassare CastiglioneBaldassare Castiglione1478–1529 · 🇮🇹 Italy · Writers22 decades
  40. 40Andrea DoriaAndrea Doria1466–1560 · 🇮🇹 Italy · Politicians22 decades
  41. 41Giovanni da VerrazzanoGiovanni da Verrazzano1491–1528 · 🇮🇹 Italy · Historical Figures19 decades
  42. 42Annibale CarracciAnnibale Carracci1560–1609 · 🇮🇹 Italy · Artists22 decades
  43. 43Pope Gregory XVPope Gregory XV1554–1623 · 🇮🇹 Italy · Religious Figures6 decades
  44. 44Isabella d'EsteIsabella d'Este1474–1539 · 🇮🇹 Italy · Artists22 decades
  45. 45Vittore CarpaccioVittore Carpaccio1465–1526 · 🇮🇹 Italy · Artists22 decades
  46. 46Giulio RomanoGiulio Romano1499–1546 · 🇮🇹 Italy · Artists22 decades
  47. 47Pope Innocent IXPope Innocent IX1519–1591 · 🇮🇹 Italy · Religious Figures0 decades
  48. 48Giovanni delle Bande NereGiovanni delle Bande Nere1498–1526 · 🇮🇹 Italy21 decades
  49. 49Pope Gregory XIVPope Gregory XIV1535–1591 · 🇮🇹 Italy · Religious Figures0 decades
  50. 50Bona SforzaBona Sforza1494–1557 · 🇮🇹 Italy · Historical Figures22 decades
  51. 51Niccolò Fontana TartagliaNiccolò Fontana Tartaglia1499–1557 · 🇮🇹 Italy · Academics22 decades
  52. 52Vittoria ColonnaVittoria Colonna1492–1547 · 🇮🇹 Italy · Writers22 decades
  53. 53Beatrice CenciBeatrice Cenci1577–1599 · 🇮🇹 Italy · Historical Figures22 decades
  54. 54Lavinia FontanaLavinia Fontana1552–1614 · 🇮🇹 Italy · Artists22 decades
  55. 55Rosso FiorentinoRosso Fiorentino1494–1540 · 🇮🇹 Italy · Artists19 decades
  56. 56Domenico FontanaDomenico Fontana1543–1607 · 🇮🇹 Italy · Architects22 decades
  57. 57GGGiovanni Gabrieli1557–1612 · 🇮🇹 Italy · Musicians17 decades
  58. 58Giulia FarneseGiulia Farnese1474–1524 · 🇮🇹 Italy20 decades
  59. 59Camillus de LellisCamillus de Lellis1550–1614 · 🇮🇹 Italy · Religious Figures0 decades
  60. 60Charles Emmanuel I, Duke of SavoyCharles Emmanuel I, Duke of Savoy1562–1630 · 🇮🇹 Italy · Historical Figuresnot measured—
  61. 61Il SodomaIl Sodoma1477–1549 · 🇮🇹 Italy · Artists0 decades
  62. 62Francesco II SforzaFrancesco II Sforza1495–1535 · 🇮🇹 Italy · Historical Figures22 decades
  63. 63Federico BarocciFederico Barocci1535–1612 · 🇮🇹 Italy · Artists22 decades
  64. 64Alfonso I d'Este, Duke of FerraraAlfonso I d'Este, Duke of Ferrara1476–1534 · 🇮🇹 Italy · Politicians0 decades
  65. 65Giacomo della PortaGiacomo della Porta1532–1602 · 🇮🇹 Italy · Architects20 decades
  66. 66Federico ZuccariFederico Zuccari1539–1609 · 🇮🇹 Italy · Artists22 decades
  67. 67Jacopo PeriJacopo Peri1561–1633 · 🇮🇹 Italy · Musicians22 decades
  68. 68Alessandro ValignanoAlessandro Valignano1539–1606 · 🇮🇹 Italy · Religious Figures7 decades
  69. 69Veronica FrancoVeronica Franco1546–1591 · 🇮🇹 Italy · Writers20 decades
  70. 70Giulio CacciniGiulio Caccini1551–1618 · 🇮🇹 Italy · Musicians22 decades
  71. 71Antonio da Sangallo the YoungerAntonio da Sangallo the Younger1484–1546 · 🇮🇹 Italy · Architects10 decades
  72. 72Thomas CajetanThomas Cajetan1469–1534 · 🇮🇹 Italy · Religious Figures0 decades
  73. 73Lawrence of BrindisiLawrence of Brindisi1559–1619 · 🇮🇹 Italy · Politicians22 decades
  74. 74Sebastiano SerlioSebastiano Serlio1475–1554 · 🇮🇹 Italy · Architects22 decades
  75. 75Ercole II d'Este, Duke of FerraraErcole II d'Este, Duke of Ferrara1508–1559 · 🇮🇹 Italy · Politicians0 decades
  76. 76Alfonso II d'EsteAlfonso II d'Este1533–1597 · 🇮🇹 Italy0 decades
  77. 77Giovanni SforzaGiovanni Sforza1466–1510 · 🇮🇹 Italy22 decades
  78. 78Marcantonio RaimondiMarcantonio Raimondi1480–1534 · 🇮🇹 Italy · Artists22 decades
  79. 79Cecilia GalleraniCecilia Gallerani1473–1536 · 🇮🇹 Italy · Models0 decades
  80. 80Bartolomeo EustachiBartolomeo Eustachi1500–1574 · 🇮🇹 Italy · Academics0 decades
  81. 81Cesare RipaCesare Ripa1555–1622 · 🇮🇹 Italy · Writers16 decades
  82. 82Pirro LigorioPirro Ligorio1513–1583 · 🇮🇹 Italy · Architects22 decades
  83. 83Bartolomeo AmmannatiBartolomeo Ammannati1511–1592 · 🇮🇹 Italy · Architects18 decades
  84. 84Pietro BerniniPietro Bernini1562–1629 · 🇮🇹 Italy · Artists0 decades
  85. 85Luca MarenzioLuca Marenzio1553–1599 · 🇮🇹 Italy · Musicians19 decades
  86. 86Felix of CantaliceFelix of Cantalice1515–1587 · 🇮🇹 Italy0 decades
  87. 87Francesco Maria II della RovereFrancesco Maria II della Rovere1549–1631 · 🇮🇹 Italy19 decades
  88. 88CigoliCigoli1559–1613 · 🇮🇹 Italy · Artists15 decades
  89. 89Andrea SansovinoAndrea Sansovino1467–1529 · 🇮🇹 Italy · Artists22 decades
  90. 90Gian Paolo LomazzoGian Paolo Lomazzo1538–1592 · 🇮🇹 Italy · Artists3 decades
  91. 91BramantinoBramantino1465–1536 · 🇮🇹 Italy · Artists22 decades
  92. 92Leone LeoniLeone Leoni1509–1590 · 🇮🇹 Italy · Artists0 decades
  93. 93Ignazio DantiIgnazio Danti1536–1586 · 🇮🇹 Italy · Scientists21 decades
  94. 94Taddeo ZuccariTaddeo Zuccari1529–1566 · 🇮🇹 Italy · Artists22 decades
  95. 95Galeazzo AlessiGaleazzo Alessi1512–1572 · 🇮🇹 Italy · Architects22 decades
  96. 96Pier Francesco OrsiniPier Francesco Orsini1523–1585 · 🇮🇹 Italy · Architects0 decades
  97. 97Benedetto VarchiBenedetto Varchi1503–1565 · 🇮🇹 Italy · Writers22 decades
  98. 98Vannoccio BiringuccioVannoccio Biringuccio1480–1539 · 🇮🇹 Italy · Architects11 decades
  99. 99ACAscanio Condivi1525–1574 · 🇮🇹 Italy · Artists22 decades
  100. 100Aloisio the NewAloisio the New1500–1531 · 🇮🇹 Italy · Architectsnot measured—

How this is measured

  • Placing people in time. Each person belongs to the century in which they were most active — around age 35, and never after their death.
  • Who ranks highest. Within a century, people are ranked where two independent signals agree: how many of the world’s Wikipedia language editions cover them, and how many people actually read about them. Article counts alone can be lifted by a person’s own circle; readers cannot.
  • Fame in print. The curves count how often a name appears in Google Books from 1800 to 2019, as a share of all the words printed each year, in the person’s own language wherever that corpus exists. Those decades are over, so each measurement is made once and kept.
  • What is left out. A lifetime is measured only from 1820, when there is enough print to judge; the five years after a death are skipped as obituaries; and a name shared with someone equally notable is credited to neither.