Between the Lines: James Johnston Pettigrew as Connoisseur of Art: His Copy of Vasari's "Lives of the Artists"

Abstract

James Johnston Pettigrew (1828-1863) of North Carolina was a well-traveled student of art and culture, and fluent in many European languages. During his sojourn in Europe, he purchased a number of books, including Giorgio Vasari's Vite de' piu eccellenti pittori, scultori, e architetti, published by Le Monnier between 1846-1870. Significantly, Pettigrew's copy which is now in the North Carolina Collection of the Library of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill—Pettigrew's alma mater—is not complete. General Pettigrew, a member of Lee's Tar Heels and a participant in Pickett's Charge at Gettysburg, died of wounds at the age of 35. This article discusses the significance of Pettigrew's copy of this important book.