Lodovico, Agostino, and Annibale, three celebrated Italian painters, were born at Bologna in 1555, 1558, and 1560 respectively. Lodovico, the elder, was cousin to the two younger brothers, Agostino and Annibale, and had nearly finished his professional studies before the others had begun their education. From being a reputed duncé at school, he gradually rose by an attentive study of nature and a careful examination of the works of the great masters, preserved at Bologna, Venice, Florence, and Parma, to measure himself with the teachers of his day, and ultimately projected the opening of a rival school in his native place. Finding himself unable to accomplish his design without assistance, he sent for his two cousins, and induced them to abandon their handicraft for the profession of painting. Agostino he first placed under the care of Fontana, retaining Annibale in his own studio, but afterwards sent them both to Venice and Parma, to copy the works of Titian, Tintoretto, and Correggio, on which his own taste had been formed. On their return, the three friends opened an academy of painting under the name of the Incamminati, assisted by an eminent anatomist, Anthony de la Tour, and provided with numerous casts, books, and bassi-relievi, which Lodovico had collected in his travels. From the affability and kindness of the Caracci, and their zeal for the scientific education of the students, their academy rose rapidly in popular estimation, and soon every other school of art in Bologna was deserted and closed. They continued together till, at the invitation of Cardinal Farnese, Annibale and Agostino went to Rome to paint the gallery of the cardinal's palace. The superior praises awarded to Agostino inflamed the jealousy of Annibale, already kindled by the brilliant reception given by the pupils of the Incamminati to Agostino's picture of the Communion of St Jerome, and he was dismissed to Parma to paint the great saloon of the Casino. Here Agostino died in 1602, when on the eve of finishing his celebrated painting of Celestial Terres- trial, and Venal Love. Annibale continued to work alone at the Farnese gallery till the designs were completed; but, disappointed at the miserable remuneration offered by the cardinal, he retired to Naples, where an unsuccessful contest for a great work in the church of the Jesuits threw him into a fever, of which he died in 1609. Lodovico still continued at his academy in Bologna, which, though invited to execute paintings in all parts of the country, he had never quitted except for a short visit to his cousin at Rome. He died in 1619, and was interred in the church of St Mary Magdalene. The works of Lodovico are nearly all to be found in the chapels of Bologna. The most famous are—The Madonna standing on the moon, with St Francis and St Jerome beside her, attended by a retinue of angels; pictures of John the Baptist, St Girolamo, St Benedict, and St Cecilia, and of the Limbo of the Fathers. He was by far the most amiable of the three friends, rising superior to all feelings of jealousy towards his rivals; and though realizing large sums for his productions, yet, from his almost unparalleled liberality to the students of the academy, he died poor. With skill in painting, Agostino combined the greatest proficiency in engraving (which he had studied under Cornelius de Cort), and high accomplishments as a scholar. He died under the deepest remorse for the indecencies which, in accordance with the corrupt taste of the time, he had allowed to creep into his engravings. The works of Annibale are more diversified in style than those of the others, and comprise specimens of painting after the manner of Correggio, Titian, Paolo Veronese, Raphael, and Michael Angelo. The most distinguished are the Dead Christ in the lap of the Madonna, the Infant and St John, St Catherine, St Roche distributing Alms (now in the Dresden Gallery), and the Saviour taken down from the Cross in presence of the Virgin, at present in possession of the Earl of Carlisle. The reputation of Annibale is greatly tarnished by his jealousy and vindictiveness towards his brother, and the licentiousness of his disposition, which brought him to an early grave.