A DRAWING BY FRANCESCO PATRIZI (1826–1905) OF THE EXCAVATION OF THE TOMB OF THE SEMPRONII IN THE VIGNA CASALI 1871–2

Abstract

This paper discusses a drawing in the Lanciani collection representing the excavations of a tomb at the Vigna Casali in 1871–2. This tomb had a rich collection of antiquities, including important sarcophagi now in the J. Paul Getty Museum, the Nelson-Atkins Museum and the Ny Carlsberg Glyptothek. The drawing, which is wrongly catalogued as depicting the Vigna Casati, has not hitherto been connected with these finds. It was made on site by Francesco Patrizi (1826–1905), a supporter of contemporary painting, amateur artist, and owner of the Villa Patrizi not far away. This article correlates the information contained in the drawing with contemporary descriptions of the excavations and a measur..