Roma Subterranea Novissima In Qua Post Antonium Bosium Antesignanum, Io: Severanum Congreg. Oratorii Presbyterum, Et celebres alios Scriptores Antiqua Christianorum Et præcipue Martyrum cæmeteria, Tituli, Monimenta, Epitaphia, Inscriptiones, Ac Nobiliora Sanctorum Sepulchra Sex Libris Distincta Illustrantur Et Quamplurimae Res Ecclesiasticae Iconibus Graphice describuntur, ac multiplici tum sacra, tum profana eruditione declarantur. Opera Et Studio Pauli Aringhi Romani Congreg. Eiusdem Presbyteri Cum duplici Indice, Capitum & Rerum locupletissimo. Tomus Primus. (Secundus.)
Vol. I: [Half-t.; add. t.-pl.; t.-p., dedic.] - Pio Ac Studioso Lectori [by Fr. Lucas Waddingus] - Imprimatur - [Poems] - Index Capitum - [Text] - Index Rerum. - Vol. II: [Half-t.; add. t.-pl.; t.-p., dedic.] - Index Capitum - [Text] - [Corrections] - Regestum [binder's register]; [colophon] - Index Rerum.
Responsibility Note
The added engraved title-plates are signed as made by Baronius; no other plates are signed.
The first volume is dedicated to Pope Innocent X; the second, to Emperor Ferdinand III.
References
S. Ditchfield, 'Text before trowel: Antonio Bosio's Roma Sotterranea revisited', in The Church Retrospective, ed. R.N. Swanson (1997), p. 343-60; G. Wataghin Cantino, 'Roma sotteranea: appunti sulle origini dell'archeologia cristiana', in Ricerche sulla storia dell'arte 10 (1980), 4-14; W.W. Meyer, 'The variable climate of Rome: British travellers to the Roman catacombs in the seventeenth century', in Studi secenteschi 26 (1985), 279-296.
Summary Note
Some study of Christian basilicas and Christian burial-rites had been made by O. Panvinio, but Antonio Bosio was the first to make a careful and comprehensive survey of the ancient Christian remains of Rome. His work, Roma sotteranea, was published posthumously in 1632. Aringhi's is a revised Latin translation of Bosio. Little further study was made before G.B. De Rossi's Roma sotteranea of 1864-77.
Provenance
Purchased from Francesco Sastres for £2 2s. on 19 April 1788 (see Sastres' invoice dated that day 'for books sent to Mr Wilton for the Royal Academy').
Binding Note
Contemporary vellum, gilt borders on upper and lower covers; spines lettered 'Roma suterranea Bosij T. I (II)'.
Subject
Mural painting and decoration, Roman - Paintings, European - Paintings, Roman - Christian antiquities - Catacombs - Cemeteries - Tombs - Inscriptions, Christian - Christian art and symbolism - Italy - Rome - History
Art history - Archaeology - Italy - 17th century
Pictorial works - Italy - 17th century