Cento, 1591 - Bologna, 1666
As far as his formation goes, Guercino, born and bred in the Ferrara area, was a self-taught artist, following in the tracks of the traditional local school to which he soon added his knowledge of the works produced by the Carracci brothers, accentuating the strongly naturalistic element. His encounter with the classic style of Guido Reni that followed was fundamental for him, in fact, from 1640 onwards, the painters artistic production is definitely more idealised.
On Guido Reni's death, two years later, in 1642, Guercino moved to Bologna. Thus becoming the leading artistic figure in the town and one of the major exponents of seventeenth century Emilian painting.
The San Francesco che riceve le stigmate
, which hangs in the Capuchin Church belongs to the Art Gallery.
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