Stefano Antonio Morcelli
Encyclopedia
Stefano Antonio Morcelli (17 January 1737 – 1 January 1822) was an Italian Jesuit scholar, known as an epigraphist.
near Brescia
. He studied at the Jesuit College of Brescia and was admitted into the Society of Jesus, 3 November 1753. He successively taught grammar at Fermo
, humanities at Ragusa, and oratory at the Roman College where he established an academy of archaeology at the Kircher Museum.
After the suppression of the Society of Jesus (1773) he became librarian to Cardinal Albani and in 1791 was appointed to a provostship
in his native town. He declined the offer of the Archbishopric of Ragusa and died in Chiari, a member of the restored Society of Jesus.
Life
Morcelli was born at ChiariChiari
Chiari is a comune in the province of Brescia, in Lombardy, northern Italy....
near Brescia
Brescia
Brescia is a city and comune in the region of Lombardy in northern Italy. It is situated at the foot of the Alps, between the Mella and the Naviglio, with a population of around 197,000. It is the second largest city in Lombardy, after the capital, Milan...
. He studied at the Jesuit College of Brescia and was admitted into the Society of Jesus, 3 November 1753. He successively taught grammar at Fermo
Fermo
Fermo is a town and comune of the Marche, Italy, in the Province of Fermo.Fermo is located on a hill, the Sabulo with a fine view, on a branch from Porto San Giorgio on the Adriatic coast railway....
, humanities at Ragusa, and oratory at the Roman College where he established an academy of archaeology at the Kircher Museum.
After the suppression of the Society of Jesus (1773) he became librarian to Cardinal Albani and in 1791 was appointed to a provostship
Provost (religion)
A provost is a senior official in a number of Christian churches.-Historical Development:The word praepositus was originally applied to any ecclesiastical ruler or dignitary...
in his native town. He declined the offer of the Archbishopric of Ragusa and died in Chiari, a member of the restored Society of Jesus.
Works
He owes his reputation not only to his extensive knowledge of ancient inscriptions, but also to his classical Latinity. Among his works are:- De stilo inscriptionum latinarum (Rome, 1781);
- Inscriptiones commentariis subjectis (Rome ,1783)
- To a second edition of these two works was added the Parergon Inscriptionum novissimarum (Padua, 1818-22);
- Menologion ton Euaggelion heortastikon sive Kalendarium Ecclesiæ Constantinopolitanæ etc. (Rome, 1788);
- Africa Christiana (Brescia, 1816-7);
- Opuscoli Ascetici (Brescia, 1819 or 1820).