The Disegni intagliati: A forgotten book illustrating the first discoveries at Herculaneum

A rare surviving example of early excavation documentation, the Disegni Intagliati di Pitture Antiche (1746), sheds new light on the political and historical context of Herculaneum's first discoveries. This work, comprising 90 engravings of marbles, bronzes, and paintings, was likely commissioned for the King of Naples but was soon overshadowed by a more comprehensive publication. Recently rediscovered in Madrid's Royal Library, its reconstruction reveals how limited distribution and shifting priorities led to its obscurity. The study provides fresh insights into 18th-century excavation practices and their societal implications.

Burlot, D. (2010). The Disegni intagliati: A forgotten book illustrating the first discoveries at Herculaneum. Journal of the History of Collections, 23(1), 15–28. https://doi.org/10.1093/jhc/fhq022