Antelmi, Pierre

Antelmi, Pierre a French theologian, nephew of Nicolas, was born at Frejus near the commencement of the 17th century, and died Nov. 27, 1668. He studied theology and jurisprudence at Paris. He wished to follow in the footsteps of his uncle, who, in his old-age, had raised a dissension concerning the celebrated Peiresc in establishing, like him, a rich cabinet of antiquities. He applied himself with ardor to the search for monuments of his native country, and formed a very beautiful collection. Afterwards he yielded up his cabinet in favor of Peiresc. He gave to him, among other things, the beautiful trivet of bronze, upon which Peiresc wrote a dissertation. Peiresc died in 1637, and Antelmi abandoned the study of antiquities in order to devote himself to theology. He restored the ancient rites and rejected all the fabulous traditions concerning St. Leonce, the patron of the Church of Frejus. See Hoefer, Nouv. Biog. Generale, s.v.