VISCONTI, a family of archaeologists and architects, the first of whom to rise to prom inence was GIOVANNI BATTISTA VISCONTI, a native of Sarzana, who settled at Rome, and, after making for himself a great name as an archeologist, succeeded Wincklemaan as pre fect of the antiquities of Rome. He was employed by Clement . and Pius 11. to collect works of ancient art for the museum of the Vatican (" Museo Pio Clementine," as, from its two principal benefactors, it was called); and afterward, in 1778, commenced the writing of the letter-press which was intended to accompany the series of engravings of that splendid collection. He died in 1784.—Esxm-Quinixo VISCONTI, eldest sou of the former, was born at Rome, Nov. 1, 1751, and was educated by his father, who intended him for the church. This profession, however, he afterward refused to adopt, and was for a time disowned by his father. But at last, in 1778, the old man was glad to call his son to his aid, and together they prepared the first volume of the engravings of the J!usco Pio Clenientino. In 1784 he edited alone the second volume of the same series; he was also appointed conservator of the Capitoline museum. The series of engrav ings of the Masco was regularly issned, the seventh and last volume being published in 1807. When Rome fell Into the hands of the French, Visconti became a member of the provisional government, and afterward one of the five consuls; but in Nov., 1799, the arrival of the Neapolitan army forced him to emigrate to France, and from this dine he settled at Paris. I his great reputation as an archeologist having been long recog nized among the learned men of the French capital, he was made an administrator of the Louvre. and professor of archeology; and drew up a catalogue of the works of art in the new museum (many of the items old familiar acquaintances of theVati can) which from the frequent raids of Napoleon on foreign collections, required to be frequently re-edited and enlarged. In 1804 he was .reqtiested by the emperor to select and publish a series of portraits of the distinguished men of ancient Greece and and this, probably the greatest of his works, appeared in two parts. Orccque (3 vols. 4to, 1808) and Iconographic Romaine (1 vol. 4to, 1817).
Contemporaneously, Visconti issued from time to time papers and dissertations on par detilsr 01)kt•to of ancient art. In 1815 he came to London by express desire of the British government, to fix a fair price for the Elgin marbles (q.v.), and on his return wprIe a memoir explanatory of these sculptures. His last work was to complete his di ..1finiunienti seelti Borghesiani (Rome, 1821). He died after a long illness, Feb., 1818, and his death was a source of grief to the learned throughout Europe, many of whom came from great distances to attend his funeral. Besides his immense anti quarian knowledge, Visconti possessed an extensive acquaintance with the history, lan guages, mythology, and manners of the classic age. A complete collection of his works was commenced at Milan in 1818, but has not been completed. See Antologia of Flor ence, No. 18; Tipaldo's Biograjia degliltatiani Illastri; and Maffei's Stork della lAtterit tura younger brother, Em•a.) Aultisiao, was also an eminent archaeolo gist, and was president of the commission of antiquities and fine arts at Rome from 1809 to 1814. Reedited the Mimeo Chiaramonti, a sequel to the Morro Pie Clementirto, and published several other works; but his chief attention was bestowed upon numis matology. lie died at Rome iu 1830.—Loutsa Jo/scant VISCONTI, the son of Ennio Quirino, was born at Rome in 1797, and after a careful education at Paris, was appren ticed to an architect. His progress in his profession was rapid, as he was appointed an inspector of public buildings as soon as his apprenticeship had expired, and shortly afterward became one of the architects and surveyors of Paris, and architect of the Bib liotheque Royale in 1825. His works include various public monuments in honor of eminent Frenchmen. some of the first fountains of Paris, the tomb of Napoleon I., and various hotels and private residences, the chief of all being the plans for the com pletion of the Louvre on a most magnificent scale. Visconti died at Paris, Dec. 29, 1853.—The nephew of the preceding, PIERRE-HERCULES VISCONTI, is a celebrated archaeologist and professor of archeology in the national academy of France, at Rome.