Annibale Carracci in Bologna

Annibale Carracci in Bologna: Visible Reality in Art after the Council of Trent by AWA Boschloo, translated by RR Symonds, 364 pages (2 vols)

The doctoral dissertation of noted Dutch art historian Anton Boschloo, Annibale Carracci in Bologna is, as its title declares, an analysis of the paintings the most celebrated of the Carraccis created in their hometown prior to his move to Rome.  Boschloo carefully traces both Annibale's influences and his departures from those influences, especially the other members of the Carracci family, not only the painters but also the tradesmen, whom Boschloo credits with helping inspire Annibale's interest in common people and concrete realities.  This, in turn, complemented the needs of the Catholic Reformation, at least as interpreted by the contemporary reforming archbishop of Bologna, Gabriele Paleotti.

This work was published in two volumes, with the first containing the text, the second the notes and plates, which has the advantage of making it possible to always directly compare the two.  Disappointingly, however, none of the plates are in color.