The Ugo Monneret de Villard Archive

Ugo Monneret de Villard (1881-1954) was an important architecture historian, especially for the Middle Ages. With a degree in engineering, he taught the history of architecture at the Polytechnic University of Milan from 1913 to 1924. After that, he acted on behalf of the Minister of Foreign Affairs in Egypt and then in Nubia. In 1937, after Italy conquered Ethiopia, he went to Aksum to take part in an excavation and to choose an obelisk to send to Rome. 

From that moment on, Monneret de Villard dedicated his life to publishing the mountain of information he had gained on his numerous voyages not only in Egypt and Nubia but also Iraq, Iran, India and Central Asia. In addition to architecture, Monneret de Villard was also interested in archaeology, history, and literature, aided by his knowledge of Oriental languages. He was unable to complete all the publications he had planned in his lifetime. Some of his work was released posthumously, others remained incomplete, including his catalogue of Islamic art in Italy.

The Ugo Monneret de Villard Archive was donated to BiASA by his brother Adolfo and sister Emma in two phases. His library arrived in 1956 and his archive in 1966. The library is made up of 340 volumes and 750 booklets: according to Library Director Guido Stendardo, they are ‘of particular importance, because they’re related to discoveries and excavations in the Near East and studies relating to Muslim populations, topics that aren't easily found among publications and which complete an essential part of the library’. The archive, on the other hand, contains correspondence and the preparatory materials for his publications.