Saint Sebastian

Guido Reni  (1575-1642)

Guido Reni was born in Bologna in 1575, and belonged to the eclectic school of Bologna whose aim was to stem the current nationalism and to establish a standard based upon the combined styles of the High Renaissance painters, Titian and Correggio in particular.

The progressive development of Reni was singular in its kind, for its period was marked by works very dissimilar in style. His early works have an imposing, almost violent character: grand, powerful figures with dark shadows resembling particularly Caravaggio. At a subsequent time, this fondness for the powerful became moderated and a more simply and natural style of imitation succeeded. His works during this transition are distinguished by an agreeable warmth of color. Those of a later period are of a pale, silvery gray. He is noted for his excellent composition, and his best work is considered to be the "Madonna della Pieta." He died in Bologna in 1642.