Carlos Ott here presents a history of the Santa Casa which, while not definitive, nevertheless is a highly informative and valuable introduction to both the brotherhood and the physical establishment.
The work is divided into three parts. The first, a history of the brotherhood, is the most disappointing to the political and social historian. The brief resumé opens tantalyzing vistas into the life of this ancient organization, which the author does not pursue. This would, however, have meant another book, and the author’s purpose is the description of the artistic monuments. Brief though it is, this section does add to our knowledge of an important subject as yet largely unexamined, and is refreshingly free from the defensive and self-glorifying attitudes of the official histories.
The second section on the construction of and changes made on the Santa Casa, carries the history to the year 1900. Happily the author does not fail to present the social reasons for the institution’s development. The third section is an analysis of the obras, architecture, sculpture, furniture, etc. The three sections are based on extensive documentation which comprises nearly half the book. The author used the archives of the Santa Casa as well as other archives. Oddly enough, he seemingly did not use the well organized and accessible Arquivo da Curia Metropolitana da Bahia.
The illustrations are good but not in the quantity which one would expect from an otherwise excellent volume. Architectural plans are lacking, but Ott explains that these are not to be found in the pertinent archives. It is possible, however, that they may exist in the Portuguese archives.
