Guercino, Giovanni (Guercino Giovanni)

(1591-1666)
Born in Cento, near Bologna, February 8, 1591. His real name - Giovanni Francesco Barbieri. Guercino's paintings, many close to the art of Caravaggio: irrational lighting, dark gloomy background, major figures, vulgar Valais. As a follower of Ludovico Carracci, he has used the romantic kyaroskuro, blurs the sculptural clarity of form.
From 1617 to 1621 Guercino lived in Bologna, where he wrote his most outstanding works. In the huge altarpiece, such as the Martyrdom of St.. Peter (Modena, museum), Ecstasy of St.. Francis (Louvre), The Return of the Prodigal Son (Turin, Museum) and CB. William of Aquitaine gets monk (Bologna, gallery), Guercino worked out a broad, 'picturesque' baroque style. Structure of the soluble form in the flow of light, . emphasizing the protruding part and all the other plunged in impenetrable shadow; movement directed diagonally into the depths of unrestricted space paintings, asymmetrical composition and the rich Venetian colors enhance the overall dramatic effect,
. In 1618 Guercino visited Venice, where he was greatly impressed by the work of Tintoretto and Jacopo Bassano.

In 1621 Guercino went to Rome and wrote a famous fresco of Aurora in the Casino Ludovizi performed in the tradition of brilliant Venetian Colorism. However, Roman classics have a deterrent effect on the baroque style of Guercino. In his great altarpiece of St. Burial. Petronilly (Rome, Capitoline Museums) felt blshaya poise and perfection song.

In 1623 Guercino returned to Cento. His palette lightens the beginning, and energetic Baroque style has changed in the direction of classicism, especially under the influence of the Bologna painter Guido Reni. After the death of Reni Guercino in 1642 inherited his position director of the Academy of Bologna. Style Master later works became more conventional, for example, in such paintings as the phenomenon of the Virgin St.. Bruno (Bologna, gallery) and Sibyl Kum (1651, London, gallery Mago).

Died Guercino in Bologna, Dec. 22, 1666.