Gentlemen visiting and drawing the vaults in the Capuchin tombs of Palermo. Wood engraving.

The Catacombe dei Cappucini date back to the sixteenth century when local priests mummified a holy monk for all to see. In time locals wanted their relatives remembered in this way. The last monk interred was Brother Riccardo of Palermo, who died in 1871. The halls are divided intocategories: men, women, virgins, children, priests, monks and professionals