Guercino

Born Giovanni Francesco Barbieri, he was nicknamed 'Guercino' (squinter) due to his strabismus. It is suggested that this physical trait contributed to his unique perception of light and shadow.¹

Mainly self-taught, Guercino was deeply influenced by Ludovico Carracci. He acknowledged that his early style was shaped by studying Carracci's Madonna, affectionately known as 'La Carraccina'.¹

In his painting 'Et in Arcadia ego', Guercino was the first to use this Latin motto, signifying that death exists even in paradise, a theme later famously adopted by Poussin and others.¹

His early works displayed a starkly naturalistic Caravaggesque style with strong chiaroscuro, even though it is unlikely he had seen Caravaggio's work in Rome at that time.¹

In 1621, he moved to Rome under the patronage of the Bolognese Pope Gregory XV. During this productive two-year stay, he created masterpieces like the 'Aurora' fresco at Villa Ludovisi.¹

Following the death of his rival Guido Reni in 1642, Guercino moved to Bologna and took over Reni's role as the city's leading painter of sacred subjects.¹

His style evolved from the vigorous naturalism and dramatic chiaroscuro of his youth to a more balanced, classical equilibrium and luminosity in his later works.¹

Never married, Guercino amassed a notable fortune. His career is well-documented in his account book, 'Libro dei Conti', and his estate passed to his nephews and pupils, the Gennari brothers.¹