Pratilli, Francesco-maria

Pratilli, Francesco-Maria all Italian ecclesiastic, noted especially as all antiquarian, was born November, 1689, at Capua. He received holy orders, and was at once provided with a canonry at the Cathedral of Capua. He died at Naples Nov. 29, 1763. Among his archaeological works we mention, Della Via Appia riconlosciuta e descritia da Roma a Brindisi (Naples, 1745, 4to); this work is ornamented with plans and maps, and is full of varied erudition: — Di una Moneta singolare del T'iranno Giovanni (ibid. 1748, 8vo); explanation of a medal, the only one of its kind, of a usurper who was proclaimed emperor in 423: — Della Origine della Metropolia ecclesiastica di Capoa (ibid. 1758, 4to). Pratilli published an edition, enriched with unpublished documents, dissertations, and a life of the author, of the Historia Principum Longobardorum of C. Pellegrini (ibid. 1749-54, 5 vols. 4to). He left in manuscript a History of the Norman Princes, in 6 vols. See Nomi illustri del Regno di Napoli, vol. 9. — Hoefer, Nouv. Biog. Géneralé, s.v.