Giovanni Becatti
Encyclopedia
Giovanni Becatti was an Italian Classical
art historian and archaeologist.
Born at Siena
, Becatti was educated at the University of Rome
under Giulio Quirino Giglioli. Becatti was appointed to the Superintendency of Ostia in 1938. He was professor of Archeology and History of Classical Art at the University of Pisa (1941–1944) and at the University La Sapienza of Rome (1945–1946).
From 1947 to 1950, he was Director of the excavations of Ostia Antica. Then Becatti moved to chair the department at the University of Milan
from 1952 to 1956, in Florence
from 1957 to 1964 and the University of Rome from 1964 to his premature death in 1973.
Becatti continued to publish on and excavate Ostia throughout his career. He altered his publishing interests from Etruscan
subjects to Ancient Greek and Roman Art.
He was the editor of the prestigious Enciclopedia dell’Arte Antica (1958–1966), with and after Bianchi Bandinelli. He was a visiting professor in the United States
at Princeton University
(1963–1964) and the University of Chicago (1969). He received the titel of "Doctor Honoris Causa" from the University of Louvain (1969).
He was member of the Accademia Nazionale dei Lincei, of the Pontificia Accademia romana di Archeologia, of the Accademia della Arti del Disegno, of the Istituto di Studi etruschi e di Studi romani.
Classical antiquity
Classical antiquity is a broad term for a long period of cultural history centered on the Mediterranean Sea, comprising the interlocking civilizations of ancient Greece and ancient Rome, collectively known as the Greco-Roman world...
art historian and archaeologist.
Born at Siena
Siena
Siena is a city in Tuscany, Italy. It is the capital of the province of Siena.The historic centre of Siena has been declared by UNESCO a World Heritage Site. It is one of the nation's most visited tourist attractions, with over 163,000 international arrivals in 2008...
, Becatti was educated at the University of Rome
University of Rome La Sapienza
The Sapienza University of Rome, officially Sapienza – Università di Roma, formerly known as Università degli studi di Roma "La Sapienza", is a coeducational, autonomous state university in Rome, Italy...
under Giulio Quirino Giglioli. Becatti was appointed to the Superintendency of Ostia in 1938. He was professor of Archeology and History of Classical Art at the University of Pisa (1941–1944) and at the University La Sapienza of Rome (1945–1946).
From 1947 to 1950, he was Director of the excavations of Ostia Antica. Then Becatti moved to chair the department at the University of Milan
Milan
Milan is the second-largest city in Italy and the capital city of the region of Lombardy and of the province of Milan. The city proper has a population of about 1.3 million, while its urban area, roughly coinciding with its administrative province and the bordering Province of Monza and Brianza ,...
from 1952 to 1956, in Florence
Florence
Florence is the capital city of the Italian region of Tuscany and of the province of Florence. It is the most populous city in Tuscany, with approximately 370,000 inhabitants, expanding to over 1.5 million in the metropolitan area....
from 1957 to 1964 and the University of Rome from 1964 to his premature death in 1973.
Becatti continued to publish on and excavate Ostia throughout his career. He altered his publishing interests from Etruscan
Etruscan civilization
Etruscan civilization is the modern English name given to a civilization of ancient Italy in the area corresponding roughly to Tuscany. The ancient Romans called its creators the Tusci or Etrusci...
subjects to Ancient Greek and Roman Art.
He was the editor of the prestigious Enciclopedia dell’Arte Antica (1958–1966), with and after Bianchi Bandinelli. He was a visiting professor in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
at Princeton University
Princeton University
Princeton University is a private research university located in Princeton, New Jersey, United States. The school is one of the eight universities of the Ivy League, and is one of the nine Colonial Colleges founded before the American Revolution....
(1963–1964) and the University of Chicago (1969). He received the titel of "Doctor Honoris Causa" from the University of Louvain (1969).
He was member of the Accademia Nazionale dei Lincei, of the Pontificia Accademia romana di Archeologia, of the Accademia della Arti del Disegno, of the Istituto di Studi etruschi e di Studi romani.
Further reading
- Scritti in memoria di Giovanni Becatti, Becatti Giovanni, a cura di Guerrini Lucia, Roma, L'Erma di Bretscneider, 1977.
- Giovanni Becatti, di Filippo Magi, Rendiconti della Pontificia Accademia Romana di Archeologia. vol.XLVII, 1974-1975.
- Ridgway, F.R. "Giovanni Becatti". Encyclopedia of the History of Classical Archaeology. Nancy Thomson de Grummond, ed. Westport, CT: Greenwood Press, 1996, p. 136
- Brilliant, Richard. "Introduction." Roman Art: from the Republic to Constantine. New York: Phaidon, 1974, p. 16, mentioned.
- Kosmos, studi sul mondo classico, Roma, L'Erma di Bretschneider, 1987