Monti, Filippo Maria

Monti, Filippo Maria an Italian prelate, was born March 23. 1675, at Bologna, of an illustrious and noble family; studied at the high school of his native place; then went to Rome, where by his superior talent and acquisitions he quickly rose to eminent favor with popes Clement XI and XII. In 1743 Benedict XIV created Monti a cardinal. He died January 17, 1754, at Rome. His library of over 12,000 volumes was given, by his request, to the library of his native place; also other valuable treasures, among them a fine collection of paintings. He wrote: Roma tutrice delle belle arti, scultura ed architettura: — Prose degli Arcadi: — Elogia cardinalium pietate, doctrina, legationibus ac rebus pro Ecclesia gestis illustrium a pontificatu Alexandri III ad Benedictum XIII (Rome, 1751, 4to).