2. Initial research
In 1769, when he was scarcely 24, he published his first work, in Latin, called De vi attractiva ignis electrici ac phaenomenis inde pendentibus. It was dedicated to Father Beccaria, though he argued with the latter’s theory on vindex electricitas.

Frontispiece of Volta's article De vi Actractiva ignis electrici del Volta

In 1774 he was nominated Superintendant and Director of the State Schools of Como. Going further into the theory he had developed in De vi attractiva, he managed to construct a piece of apparatus, in 1775, which produced electricity without needing continuous rubbing as the current electrostatic machines required. This new machine, which Volta called the perpetual electrophorus, very soon became appreciated and used in all European laboratories.