Page:Catholic Encyclopedia, volume 4.djvu/823

 DE ROSSI

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DE ROSSI

iariano Armellini, an enthusiast in archieology, Luigi multitude of pious and painstaking monks had writ-


 * agliosi, the numismatist, Orazio Marucchi, a popu- ten concerning the Christian past, and in addition the

rizer of Christian archaeology, Cosimo Stornaiolo, accounts they have left us of their own times. In this

le "Cirecian", besides many other Italians, among way De Rossi was soon universally acknowledged, even

hom Gcnnaro Aspreno Giilante of Naples deserves to in his lifetime, as the prince of Christian archieologists.

named, found in De Rossi a fatherly friend and )unsellor. Among his English disciples and friends ere especially J. Spencer Northcote and W. R. ro'milow who made known to the English-speaking orld the results of De Rossi's scholarly investiga- ans and publications. For years Northcote and rownlow, and Lewis at Oxford, were in constant cor- spondence with De Rossi.

Stress is thus laid on the important personal
 * quaintance and friendships of De Rossi, in order to

aphasize with what skill he stimulated interest in tiristian archaeology in 1 directions. Equally iportant, perhaps, were e relations established T him in the years 1850- ) during which he con- icted many strangers, [ten of high rank, rough the catacombs, or ted as their guide among e monumental ruins of ome. The friendships us made often secured r him the loan of monu- ents and documents hich otliorwise would mporarily, to a foreign luntrj-, but which were ■ought to him at Rome f the diplomatic couriers
 * ver have been sent, even

all countries, not ex- ipting Russia, thus giv- g him opportunity to camine these objects at s leisure. The imme- ate superiors of De Rossi

the Vatican Archives eated him always as a lend ami an equal, and lowed him entire free- )m in all his studies, ius IX honoured him ith a fatherly affection, riking evidence of which as given on more than

le occasion. Though the science of Christian arch- these papers appeared asseparate volumes or as learned ology was rather foreign to the mental temper of Leo tributes on anniversary occasions. They varj' in length III that pope often showed that, on the proper occa- from one to one hundred and thirty-two printed pages, on, he could do justice to De Rossi's great reputation. The titles of his larger and monumental works are 1 Rome De Rossi was exceedingly popular; nearly all as follows: (1) "Inscriptiones christianse Urbis Romae le educated citizens, as well as the foreign residents, septimo saeculoantiquiores" (vol. I, Rome, 1861 ; part lew and honoured him. Without some knowledge I of vol. II, Rome, 1888); Giuseppe Gatti is complete

Owing to his extraordinary literary productivity, which was the natural result of the conditions out- lined above, a distinction must be drawn between his minor and his greater works. The list of his minor writings (monographs) begins in 18-49 with the me- moir: "Iscrizione onoraria di Nicomaco Flaviano", which appeared in the "Annali dell' Istituto di corris- pondenza archeologica" (pp. 283-.363). These archae- olcgical and ecclesiastico-historical papers number 203, not including the so-called literarj- letters in which De Rossi answered the questions addressed him by various scholars. Most of these letters were given publicity in books or periodicals by those to whom they were sent. Nor does tliis total in- clude an almost countless series of Latin inscrip- tions, expressions of lit- erary homage, congratu- latory epigrams, etc. Most of the monographs, often quite lengthy, ap- peared in "Bullcttino dell' Istituto di corris- ) )Oiidenza archeologica ' ' ; " Hullr-ttino archeologico X:i|.olit:ilii-i''; " Revue Mrrl„'nl,,«i.|ue"; "Bul- let tinodellacommissione archeologica comunale di Roma"; "Bibliotheque de I'ecole des chartes"; " Ephemeris eiJigraph- ica"; "Studi e documen- ti di storia e diritto"; " Dissertazioni dell' acca- tlemia romana pontificia di archeologia " ; "Me- langes d'archeologie et d'histoire de I'^cole fran(aise de Rome"; " Riiraische (Juartalsch- rif t ' ', and in ot her Italian and foreign periodicals and reviews. A few of

■ these facts De Rossi's learned labours and extraor- inarj' success would be only superficially understood. By his peculiar training, therefore, De Rossi was ell fitted to understand sympathetically the early hristian literature, as well as the rise and develop- lent of the Roman State as shown in the monuments

ing this work (cf. "Archivio della R. Societi Romana di storia patria", 1887, 696 sqq.; also the s.ame soci- ety's "Conferenze pel corso di metodologia della storia", part III, Rome, 1888). (2) "La Roma Sot- terranea Cristiana" (vol. I with an atlas of forty plates, Home, 1864; vol. II with an atlas of sixty-two

has left. In regard to the Roman State, he never and \, B, C, D plates, Rome, 1867; vol. Ill with an

Bid the somewhat mechanical and no longer undis iited fheorj- of Monun.sen. lie |)enetratcd also with larvellous insight the growth of the primitive Chris- an hierarchy. .\mid his books and papers De Rossi ondered over the ruins of the temples and palaces of

atlas of fifty-two plates, Rome, 1877). The plates for the fourth volume were already (jrinted in jiart when De Rossi died (see "BuUettino di archeologia cristiana", 1864, I, 1864, 6.3-64; 1867, 11, 89-90; 1876, III, 155- 57). (3) "BuUettino di archeologia cristiana"; the

ntiquity; reviewed his own subterranean explora- first series, in quarto, appeared in monthly mimbers

ons; followed the early Christians in their thoughts, (1863-69), with illu.strations in the text and coloured

ishes, hopes, and ideals: contemplated the triumph plates; it consisted of one hundred and twenty-six

F the Church, liberated by Constantine the Great and monographs and communications. The second series,

itering triumphantly the basilicas; and gathered in octavo, appeared quarterly (1870-75), with twelve

omyellowed manuscripts the traditions that a learned lithographic plates in each volume, and contained al-