Salvolini became a student of Champollion in 1831, at the recommendation of Constanzo Gazzera; after having graduated in Oriental languages from the University of Bologna.[1] During Champollion's final illness in 1832, Salvolini was given full access to the materials in his mentor's office.[2] Shortly after Champollion died, his older brother Jacques Joseph collected together all of his younger brother's manuscripts, and realized that significant portions were missing.[2] Suspicion immediately fell on Salvolini, who denied the charges leveled against him.[2] Salvolini subsequently started to publish groundbreaking works on hieroglyphs that were met with acclaim.[2]