Founded in 1888 by newspaperman James E. Scripps, the Detroit Institute of Arts (DIA) features an impressive collection of Italian Baroque paintings. This lavish catalog-the second entry in a three-volume series (the first was Masters of Dutch Painting)-showcases 69 of the museum's 17th- and 18th-century Italian paintings, including Canaletto's Piazza San Marco, Venice; Caravaggio's The Conversion of the Magdalen; and Carlo Dolci's The Flight into Egypt, as well as paintings by lesser-known artists. Bissell (history of art, Univ. of Michigan), Andria Derstine (A.W. Mellon fellow, DIA), and Dwight Miller (art history, emeritus, Stanford Univ.) have written straightforward entries alphabetically arranged by artist that include illustrations (some comparative), artist's biography, comments, technical analysis, endnotes, bibliography, provenance, and exhibition history. The technical analyses cover artists' techniques, media, and x-ray results. A good value for the quantity and quality of illustrations and information provided, this is recommended for larger academic or special libraries. 75 colour p85 b/w illustrations
