VENUS ENDORMIE AVEC DES AMOURS

1595–1609 · Werkzaam in

Rome

1597–1605

Assistants at the Palazzo Farnese: the masters to come

Many of Annibale’s assistants and pupils on the projects at the Palazzo Farnese and the Herrera Chapel became pre-eminent artists of the next decades, among them Domenichino, Francesco Albani, Giovanni Lanfranco, Domenico Viola, Guido Reni and Sisto Badalocchio.

1602

The commission for the Herrera Chapel

In 1602 Annibale received the commission to decorate the Herrera Chapel in the Roman church of San Giacomo degli Spagnoli. The surviving parts of the frescoes were later transferred to the National Art Museum of Catalonia in Barcelona and some to the Prado Museum in Madrid.

1602

A trip to Emilia-Romagna, probably for Agostino’s funeral

After 1595 Annibale left Rome only twice; the first time was briefly in 1602, to Emilia-Romagna, probably for the funeral of his brother Agostino.

c. 1605

A mental breakdown after a meagre fee

Carracci was a melancholic, and around 1605 he suffered a mental breakdown which, biographers explain, was caused by the unexpectedly low fee of 500 scudi for the frescoes of the Farnese gallery.

1605

Serious illness: rheumatism keeps him from painting

In March 1605 Annibale fell seriously ill and apparently never recovered enough to resume work. From 1605 severe rheumatic pains deprived him of the ability to paint.