From Genova to Yangzhou? Funerary Monuments for Europeans in Yuan China and their Paleographic Analysis

This article scrutinizes two extraordinary funerary monuments to members of the Ilioni family from Genoa through paleographical methods. Erected in 1342 and 1344 respectively, they commemorate Caterina Antonio, children an Italian merchant that died as small Catholic community central Chinese trade hub Yangzhou. Although well known recent debates on history medieval travel occasionally discussed art-historical context, have not yet received in-depth epigraphic analysis. In doing so for first time, argues importance such material, processes acculturation can be traced development scripts themselves. The epigraphy these is both line with contemporary letter styles northern Italy and, at same observations show how influences characters were slowly included Latin text. sum, authors argue it most likely a Franciscan missionary gifted some craftmanship stonemason generated this part slabs, turn forces us think about late practices production Europe too. What seemed exotic case “global epigraphy” reveals itself second glance example teaches valuable lesson role friars more widely.