From 1873 to his death he served as director of Palermo's Museo Nazionale, which was later renamed after him. He took part in excavations at Mozia, Tindari, Selinunte and elsewhere on Sicily, finding four archaic metopes at Selinunte, which were moved to the Museo Nazionale. He was also made superintendent for the provinces of Palermo, Trapani, Girgenti and Messina, becoming particularly noted for saving and curating artworks after the 1908 Messina earthquake. He was one of the founders of the Italian Numismatic Institute and served as its president from 1912 until his death.