Casanatense Library
The Casanatense Library was founded by the Dominicans of the Monastery of Santa Maria sopra Minerva in Rome and opened to the general public, according to the will of Cardinal Girolamo Casanate.
In order to contain the Library collection the Friars built a new architectural structure in the area of the monastery cloister. The Salone (hall) was probably designed by the well-known Roman architect Carlo Fontana, but it was finally realised by Antonio Maria Borioni. The Library was already opened on November 3rd, 1701, only one year after Cardinal Casanate's death. The first nucleum of the Library was the collection of the Cardinal, which contained up to 25.000 volumes.
The Library was linked to the most important european book commerce centres, and it was both interested in modern production and antique books, with the aim of being an encyclopaedic library. The acquisitions regarded not only the traditional religious and theological arguments, but also the roman law, economy, and history of the city of Rome. It excelled among the roman libraries both for the bright policy of acquisitions and for the expert bibliotheconomical and catalographical activity, mainly due to the figure of Father Audiffredi (1714-1794).
In 1873 the Italian Government extended to Rome the law on the suppression of religious houses. According to that law, the legal title of the Casanatense was forfeited to the State. The Dominicans started legal proceedings against the Italian Government, which lasted till 1884, when they finally lost the property of the Library forever.
Bibliography:
M. Panetta, La "libraria" di Mattia Casanate, Roma, Bulzoni, 1988V. De Gregorio, La Biblioteca Casanatense di Roma, Napoli, Ed. scientifiche italiane, 1993V. De Gregorio, Casanatense e dintorni..., Napoli, CUEN, 1997
More info: La libraria dei Predicatori
