Correspondence Relating to Carlo Borromeo's Early Architectural Patronage

FAIN: FT-52960-04

John H. Alexander
Texas A & M University, College Station (College Station, TX 77843-0001)

Carlo Borromeo (1538 - 1584) was one of the most important architectural patrons of the Counter-Reformation. Unfortunately, his early patronage remains misunderstood and understudied. I intend to rectify this by producing a book-length study that will be ready for publication in 2005. This project will build upon my doctoral dissertation, which investigated an early, important commission. A fundamental source for this study is Borromeo's correspondence, most of which is held in the Biblioteca Ambrosiana, Milan. This past summer, I researched all of the letters that Borromeo wrote during an early, formative period in his life (1559 - 1565). The proposed project is to read all of the letters that others wrote TO Borromeo during that same period.