Carlo Cesare Malvasia (1616–1693) was an Italian scholar and art historian from Bologna, best known for his biographies of Baroque artists titled Felsina pittrice, published in 1678. Together with his contemporary Giovanni Pietro Bellori, Malvasia is considered "among the best informed and most intelligent historians and critics of art who ever lived." Life and career Carlo Cesare Malvasia was born on 18 December 1616 to Anton-Galeazzo Malvasia, a member of the lesser nobility who held the title of count (which his son was to inherit), and a certain Caterina, described only as "a woman of low degree but his legitimate wife." The young man studied poetry under Cesare Rinaldi, a renowned baroque poet, and he also studied music. He wrote poetry while still a boy and learned to play several musical instruments. He received cursory training in painting under Giacinto Campana and Giacomo Cavedone. Later, under the guidance of a noted jurist, Claudio Achillini (1575–1640), he studied law and took his degree at the University of Bologna in December of 1638. Shortly after graduating he moved to Rome where he remained active in both law and literature. He belonged to two literary societies, the Accademia degli Umoristi and the Accademia dei Fantastici. In this last he served as principe or president. He became friends with Cardinal Bernardino Spada and the sculptor Alessandro Algardi. While he was still in Rome a small-scale war broke out between the Farnese, one of Italy's most powerful families, and the Barberini, whose family was headed by Urban VIII, the reigning pope. Both sides contested for Castro, the largest dukedom inside the boundaries of the Papal States. Malvasia at once enlisted on the side of the pope. He fought with valor in a brigade commanded by his cousin, the Marchese Cornelio Malvasia, leader of the Papal Army cavalry. After the end of the War of Castro, Malvasia became gravely ill. Probably about this time, in the early 1640s, he returned to Bologna, where he was to remain for the rest of his life. On his recovery from his unnamed illness he studied for and entered the priesthood. He obtained a theology degree in 1653, and in 1662 was appointed a canon of the Cathedral of Bologna, a position of considerable prestige. He also continued his interest in literary matters and was an active member of the Accademia dei Gelati, the most important Bolognese literary society. Nevertheless,