Guido Reni
St Joseph with the Infant Jesus c. 1635
St Matthew and the Angel 1635-40
Guido Reni- the bewitching religious painter
Introduction
Guido Reni was born in the year 1575 on the 4th of November. In fact, the Italian painter was well known for his Baroque paintings because they hinted at religious and mythical subjects. It has made it difficult not to fall for his paintings. Because of his high demand, he traveled to Bologna, Rome, and Naples.
When he was in Italy, he had many pupils studying painting under him. His artwork went so far that it even influenced the Spanish Baroque artists as well. Apart from being a talented artist, he can be taken as a high Italian Nobleman. In his later years of fame, he had started an art studio in Bologna.
His Early Life
Reni was born to a family of graceful musicians and was the sole child of Daniele Rene and Genivra Pozzi. The young artist was fascinated by art from a very young age. When he was nine years old, he worked in an art studio owned by Denis Calvert. He worked with two other artists there. The three started another rival art studio together in the coming years.
But Reni left the studio by 1598 over an argument with Ludovico Carracci, leading the studio. Later, he traveled with Albani, one of the colleague painters from the studio, to Rome. Reni worked with Fresco decorations in the Farnese Palace. In 1614, he returned to Bologna and started his studio there.
His Artworks
Guido Reni has blessed the world of art with his alluring paintings. He was a painter of classic Baroque style. His artworks were based on mythological and even religious subjects, most of the time. Some of his notably famous pieces are well known for the Smooth and bright tones that he used.
His artworks have been graciously displayed worldwide, some of the places being the Art Institute of Chicago and the Couvre Museum in Paris. The ‘Casino dell’ Aurora’ is a masterpiece that Reni created. One can categorize it as one of the most famous Fresco’s he has ever made. His other art pieces include ‘Saint Joseph & the Christ Child’ (1640), ‘Joseph and Potiphar’s Wife’(1630), Massacre of the Innocents’ (1611), ‘St. Micahel Archangel’ (1636) and many more.
His Death
The Italian Baroque painter died on the 18th of August, 1642, in Bologna. He passed away at the age of 67, suffering from an illness.