Claim profile
1600–1699

The 17th century

Whose working lives fell in the 17th 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 17th century, ranked where Wikipedia coverage and readership agree.

CountryAll🇫🇷 France🇩🇪 Germany🇬🇧 United Kingdom🇯🇵 Japan🇹🇷 Turkey🇳🇱 Netherlands🇪🇸 Spain🇮🇹 Italy🇸🇪 Sweden🇨🇳 China
FieldAllWritersPoliticiansHistorical FiguresArtistsAcademicsScientistsMusiciansReligious FiguresActorsModels
  1. 1CaravaggioCaravaggio1571–1610 · 🇮🇹 Italy · Artists22 decades
  2. 2Gian Lorenzo BerniniGian Lorenzo Bernini1598–1680 · 🇮🇹 Italy · Artists13 decades
  3. 3Artemisia GentileschiArtemisia Gentileschi1593–1653 · 🇮🇹 Italy · Artists18 decades
  4. 4Claudio MonteverdiClaudio Monteverdi1567–1643 · 🇮🇹 Italy · Musicians14 decades
  5. 5Pope Benedict XIIIPope Benedict XIII1649–1730 · 🇮🇹 Italy · Religious Figures20 decades
  6. 6Pope Clement XIPope Clement XI1649–1721 · 🇮🇹 Italy · Religious Figures22 decades
  7. 7Pope Alexander VIIPope Alexander VII1599–1667 · 🇮🇹 Italy · Religious Figures22 decades
  8. 8Pope Innocent XIPope Innocent XI1611–1689 · 🇮🇹 Italy · Religious Figures22 decades
  9. 9Antonio StradivariAntonio Stradivari1644–1737 · 🇮🇹 Italy15 decades
  10. 10Tommaso CampanellaTommaso Campanella1568–1639 · 🇮🇹 Italy · Academics22 decades
  11. 11Pope Clement IXPope Clement IX1600–1669 · 🇮🇹 Italy · Religious Figures20 decades
  12. 12Pope Innocent XPope Innocent X1574–1655 · 🇮🇹 Italy · Religious Figures3 decades
  13. 13Arcangelo CorelliArcangelo Corelli1653–1713 · 🇮🇹 Italy · Musicians20 decades
  14. 14Alessandro ScarlattiAlessandro Scarlatti1660–1725 · 🇮🇹 Italy · Musicians21 decades
  15. 15Evangelista TorricelliEvangelista Torricelli1608–1647 · 🇮🇹 Italy · Scientists22 decades
  16. 16Guido ReniGuido Reni1575–1642 · 🇮🇹 Italy · Artists22 decades
  17. 17Pope Innocent XIIIPope Innocent XIII1655–1724 · 🇮🇹 Italy · Religious Figures0 decades
  18. 18Pope Innocent XIIPope Innocent XII1615–1700 · 🇮🇹 Italy · Religious Figures8 decades
  19. 19Giovanni Domenico CassiniGiovanni Domenico Cassini1625–1712 · 🇮🇹 Italy · Academics11 decades
  20. 20Pope Clement XPope Clement X1590–1676 · 🇮🇹 Italy · Religious Figures0 decades
  21. 21Carlo GesualdoCarlo Gesualdo1566–1613 · 🇮🇹 Italy · Musicians20 decades
  22. 22GuercinoGuercino1591–1666 · 🇮🇹 Italy · Artists22 decades
  23. 23Pope Alexander VIIIPope Alexander VIII1610–1691 · 🇮🇹 Italy · Religious Figures0 decades
  24. 24Elena Cornaro PiscopiaElena Cornaro Piscopia1646–1684 · 🇮🇹 Italy · Academics0 decades
  25. 25Pietro da CortonaPietro da Cortona1596–1669 · 🇮🇹 Italy · Artists22 decades
  26. 26Salvator RosaSalvator Rosa1615–1673 · 🇮🇹 Italy · Artists22 decades
  27. 27Girolamo FrescobaldiGirolamo Frescobaldi1583–1643 · 🇮🇹 Italy · Musicians17 decades
  28. 28Joseph of CupertinoJoseph of Cupertino1603–1663 · 🇮🇹 Italy22 decades
  29. 29Raimondo, Prince MontecuccoliRaimondo, Prince Montecuccoli1609–1680 · 🇮🇹 Italy · Politiciansnot measured—
  30. 30Charles Emmanuel II of SavoyCharles Emmanuel II of Savoy1634–1675 · 🇮🇹 Italy14 decades
  31. 31Bartolomeo CristoforiBartolomeo Cristofori1655–1731 · 🇮🇹 Italy · Scientists0 decades
  32. 32Guarino GuariniGuarino Guarini1624–1683 · 🇮🇹 Italy · Architects22 decades
  33. 33Mary of ModenaMary of Modena1658–1718 · 🇮🇹 Italy · Historical Figures21 decades
  34. 34Elisabetta SiraniElisabetta Sirani1638–1665 · 🇮🇹 Italy · Artists21 decades
  35. 35Victor Amadeus I of SavoyVictor Amadeus I of Savoy1587–1637 · 🇮🇹 Italy · Historical Figures7 decades
  36. 36Francesco CavalliFrancesco Cavalli1602–1676 · 🇮🇹 Italy · Musicians22 decades
  37. 37Gregorio AllegriGregorio Allegri1582–1652 · 🇮🇹 Italy · Musicians16 decades
  38. 38Marcello MalpighiMarcello Malpighi1628–1694 · 🇮🇹 Italy · Doctors5 decades
  39. 39Giovanni LanfrancoGiovanni Lanfranco1582–1647 · 🇮🇹 Italy · Artists22 decades
  40. 40GCGiacomo Carissimi1605–1674 · 🇮🇹 Italy · Musicians0 decades
  41. 41Giovanni BaglioneGiovanni Baglione1566–1643 · 🇮🇹 Italy · Artists14 decades
  42. 42Claudia de' MediciClaudia de' Medici1604–1648 · 🇮🇹 Italy · Politicians14 decades
  43. 43BCBenedetta Carlini1590–1661 · 🇮🇹 Italy0 decades
  44. 44GCGiovanni Ceva1647–1734 · 🇮🇹 Italy · Academics9 decades
  45. 45Giovanni Pietro BelloriGiovanni Pietro Bellori1613–1696 · 🇮🇹 Italy · Artists4 decades
  46. 46Carlo RainaldiCarlo Rainaldi1611–1691 · 🇮🇹 Italy · Architects20 decades
  47. 47Filippo BaldinucciFilippo Baldinucci1625–1697 · 🇮🇹 Italy · Politicians22 decades
  48. 48Giovanni Battista CrespiGiovanni Battista Crespi1573–1632 · 🇮🇹 Italy · Artists6 decades
  49. 49Vincenzo CarducciVincenzo Carducci1576–1638 · 🇮🇹 Italy · Artists3 decades
  50. 50Daniele CrespiDaniele Crespi1598–1630 · 🇮🇹 Italy · Artists0 decades
  51. 51Paolo de MatteisPaolo de Matteis1662–1728 · 🇮🇹 Italy · Artists6 decades
  52. 52Pietro TaccaPietro Tacca1577–1640 · 🇮🇹 Italy · Artists22 decades
  53. 53Girolamo RainaldiGirolamo Rainaldi1570–1655 · 🇮🇹 Italy · Architects0 decades
  54. 54Ginevra CantofoliGinevra Cantofoli1618–1672 · 🇮🇹 Italy · Artists2 decades
  55. 55Leon of ModenaLeon of Modena1571–1648 · 🇮🇹 Italy · Writers3 decades
  56. 56Giovanni BrancaGiovanni Branca1571–1645 · 🇮🇹 Italy · Architects20 decades
  57. 57Ferdinando Galli-BibienaFerdinando Galli-Bibiena1657–1743 · 🇮🇹 Italy · Architectsnot measured—
  58. 58ASAntonio Sartorio1630–1681 · 🇮🇹 Italy · Musicians5 decades
  59. 59Giovanni Francesco RomanelliGiovanni Francesco Romanelli1610–1662 · 🇮🇹 Italy · Artists4 decades
  60. 60Sisto BadalocchioSisto Badalocchio1585–1647 · 🇮🇹 Italy · Artists10 decades
  61. 61Orazio GrassiOrazio Grassi1583–1654 · 🇮🇹 Italy · Scientists0 decades
  62. 62Carlo Cesare MalvasiaCarlo Cesare Malvasia1616–1693 · 🇮🇹 Italy15 decades
  63. 63Domenico MartinelliDomenico Martinelli1650–1718 · 🇮🇹 Italy · Architects14 decades
  64. 64ADAmedeo di Castellamonte1613–1683 · 🇮🇹 Italy · Architects0 decades
  65. 65Giovanni Francesco GrimaldiGiovanni Francesco Grimaldi1606–1680 · 🇮🇹 Italy · Artists4 decades
  66. 66Giacinto GimignaniGiacinto Gimignani1606–1680 · 🇮🇹 Italy · Artists7 decades
  67. 67ABAgostino Barelli1627–1697 · 🇮🇹 Italy · Architects0 decades
  68. 68Onorio LonghiOnorio Longhi1568–1619 · 🇮🇹 Italy · Architectsnot measured—
  69. 69Giacomo TorelliGiacomo Torelli1608–1678 · 🇮🇹 Italy · Architectsnot measured—
  70. 70Giovanni Antonio FumianiGiovanni Antonio Fumiani1645–1710 · 🇮🇹 Italy · Artistsnot measured—
  71. 71Tommaso NapoliTommaso Napoli1659–1725 · 🇮🇹 Italy · Architects0 decades
  72. 72Luigi GarziLuigi Garzi1638–1721 · 🇮🇹 Italy · Artists16 decades
  73. 73GBGiovanni Battista Trevanodied 1644 · 🇮🇹 Italy · Architectsnot measured—
  74. 74Pietro PaoliniPietro Paolini1603–1681 · 🇮🇹 Italy · Artistsnot measured—
  75. 75CLCarlo Lurago1615–1684 · 🇮🇹 Italy · Architectsnot measured—
  76. 76GBGiovanni Battista Contini1642–1723 · 🇮🇹 Italy · Architectsnot measured—
  77. 77Martino Longhi the YoungerMartino Longhi the Younger1602–1660 · 🇮🇹 Italy · Architectsnot measured—
  78. 78Mattia de RossiMattia de Rossi1637–1695 · 🇮🇹 Italy · Architects16 decades
  79. 79Francesco Galli BibienaFrancesco Galli Bibiena1659–1739 · 🇮🇹 Italy · Architectsnot measured—
  80. 80Giacomo del PòGiacomo del Pò1652–1726 · 🇮🇹 Italy · Artists6 decades
  81. 81CACarlo Antonio Carlone1635–1708 · 🇮🇹 Italy · Architects0 decades
  82. 82Giovanni Battista CrescenziGiovanni Battista Crescenzi1577–1635 · 🇮🇹 Italy · Artistsnot measured—
  83. 83GBGiovanni Battista Passeri1610–1679 · 🇮🇹 Italy · Artists6 decades
  84. 84Antonio FranchiAntonio Franchi1638–1709 · 🇮🇹 Italy · Artistsnot measured—
  85. 85Nicola SabbatiniNicola Sabbatini1574–1654 · 🇮🇹 Italy · Architectsnot measured—
  86. 86Margherita CaffiMargherita Caffi1648–1710 · 🇮🇹 Italy · Artistsnot measured—
  87. 87Galeazzo Gualdo PrioratoGaleazzo Gualdo Priorato1606–1678 · 🇮🇹 Italy · Writersnot measured—
  88. 88Giulio ParigiGiulio Parigi1571–1635 · 🇮🇹 Italy · Architectsnot measured—
  89. 89Pompeo FerrariPompeo Ferrari1660–1736 · 🇮🇹 Italy · Architectsnot measured—
  90. 90Luigi BerniniLuigi Bernini1612–1681 · 🇮🇹 Italy · Architectsnot measured—
  91. 91Bartolomeo BiancoBartolomeo Bianco1590–1656 · 🇮🇹 Italy · Architects0 decades
  92. 92Gherardo SilvaniGherardo Silvani1579–1675 · 🇮🇹 Italy · Architects0 decades
  93. 93Giacomo AmatoGiacomo Amato1643–1732 · 🇮🇹 Italy · Architectsnot measured—
  94. 94Giovanni Battista SoriaGiovanni Battista Soria1581–1651 · 🇮🇹 Italy · Architectsnot measured—
  95. 95DLDionisio Lazzari1617–1689 · 🇮🇹 Italy · Architectsnot measured—
  96. 96Agostino MitelliAgostino Mitelli1609–1660 · 🇮🇹 Italy · Artistsnot measured—
  97. 97GAGiovan Antonio de' Rossi1616–1695 · 🇮🇹 Italy · Architectsnot measured—
  98. 98GGGiovanni Giacomo de Rossi1627–1691 · 🇮🇹 Italy · Artistsnot measured—
  99. 99Massimiliano Soldani BenziMassimiliano Soldani Benzi1656–1740 · 🇮🇹 Italy · Artistsnot measured—
  100. 100Alessandro CapraAlessandro Capra1608–1684 · 🇮🇹 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.