Baroque Self-Invention and Historical Truth

In his monumental study, Christopher Braider explores the dialectical contest between history and truth that defines the period of cultural transition called the ''baroque''. For example, Annibale Carracci''s portrayal of the Stoic legend of Hercules at the Crossroads departs from earlier, more static representations that depict an emblematic demigod who has already rejected the fallen path of wor...