For an in-depth biography and bibliography of Celestino Schiaparelli (1841–1919), the most authoritative source remains the obituary by C. A. Nallino in Rivista degli Studi Orientali, Vol. 8, Fasc. 1/4 (1919/1920), pp. 451–464.
A brief profile is also found in Giorgio Levi della Vida’s entry in the Enciclopedia Italiana:
📌 Biography
- Born in Savigliano on May 14, 1841, and died in Rome on October 26, 1919.
- Initially employed in the postal administration due to financial difficulties, but continued studying Arabic in Turin (under Luigi Calligaris) and Florence (under Michele Amari).
- His early works, including Vocabulista in arabico (Florence, 1871) and L'Italia descritta nel "Libro del re Ruggero" (Rome, 1883), were encouraged by Amari.
- Appointed Professor of Arabic at:
- Istituto di Studi Superiori in Florence (1873–1874)
- University of Rome (1875–1916)
The Schiaparelli Library Donation
Upon his death in 1919, his widow Maria Schiaparelli generously donated his orientalist library to the Oriental School in spring 1920, as documented in Rivista degli Studi Orientali, pp. 867–868:
📚 Collection Highlights
- 700–800 rare and valuable volumes
- Focus on Arabic studies and the Muslim world
- A precious archive of his unpublished works
The entire collection is fully cataloged.
Research and Projects
A research project, "Rediscovering the Oriental School at Sapienza University. Celestino Schiaparelli’s Bequest: His Library and Unpublished Papers", was funded by Sapienza University and led by Prof. Arianna D’Ottone Rambach.
📅 Project Completion: 2018
📖 Results: Published in Rivista degli Studi Orientali (New Series, Vol. XCIV, Fasc. 1, 2021)
📌 Further Resources
The topographical register of the Schiaparelli Collection is available in the detailed information section.