Reni, Guido (1575-1642)

The Biblical story of David and Goliath, illustrated by an example of the work of the Bolognese painter Guido Reni. Reni's reputation was once considerable, but suffered after being savaged by the English art critic John Ruskin. Influenced by Caravaggio and the Carracci school of painting, Reni's work has now returned to favour.

Italian painter. He was an important figure in the development of the baroque style. His best-known work is the fresco Aurora (1613-14; Casino Rospigliosi, Rome), a work which shows the strong influence of the classicism of the Carracci.

He first studied in Bologna under the Flemish painter Denis Calvaert, but afterwards entered the academy of the Carracci and became one of the principal adherents of Annibale Carracci. He went to Rome about 1600, where, though belonging to an opposite camp, he seems to have been influenced to some extent by Caravaggio. He was, however, more greatly impressed by Raphael Sanzio and antique sculpture, developing a sophisticated classicism of his own.

In the 1630s his style became broader in handling and cooler in colour. In the 17th and 18th centuries Guido was generally considered second only to Raphael, but his reputation declined sharply in the 19th century after attacks by John Ruskin, who accused him of empty theatricality. Now that his own works are less confused with the often insipid products of his followers, he is re-emerging as an important artist.