Unger (art history, Ben-Gurion U. of the Negev and Bezalel Academy of Art, Israel) has written a study of eight of Guercino's paintings that focuses both on the history of style and on the political contexts of the paintings' commissions. Created for popes, cardinals, and other prominent figures, Unger demonstrates how the paintings contain references to current political events, patterns of power, and religious orthodoxy during the Thirty Years War. Unger's analysis includes detailed comparisons with other Italian paintings of the same subjects as well as the account of Guercino's commissions according to the 17th-century historian Malvasia. The paintings themselves are reproduced in b&w and some color plates. The volume, which concludes with an extensive bibliography, also features a chapter-length biography of the artist. Filled with details about Italian and European politics of the period, this fine study will appeal to historians as well as art historians. Annotation ©2010 Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)