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Giancarla Periti, ed. Emilia e Marche nel Rinascimento: L'Identita Visiva della 'Periferia'. Azzano San Paolo: Bolis Edizioni, 2005. 324 pp. index. illus. €25. ISBN: 88-7827-139-X. In the introduction to this [...]

This study of Luca Berrettini’s career, testament, and posthumous inventory defines his work relationship to Pietro da Cortona more precisely and examines his contribution to the building of Baroque Rome more thoroughly than previous sources. Its conclusions expand our understanding of the operating procedures of Pietro da Cortona, the identity and work of Luca Berrettini, and the occupation of scalpel- //«o-merchant. While closely connected to, and dependent upon, his more famous kinsman, Berrettini also acted independently to develop his professional and economic prospects by specializing in the carving of polychrome stone and diversifying into the stone market. His combination of technical acumen and intellectual capability enabled him to collaborate closely and continually in Cortona’s architecture and to design some independent works. The case of Berrettini demonstrates that boundaries between the professions in the building industry could be elided, even though in theory the ability to design, which required intellect, separated architects from scalpellini. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]