Guido Reni

Guido Reni was born near Bologna in 1575. He was a pupil of the Carracci. He came to Rome to study the works of Raphael and Caravaggio. He remained in Rome twenty years. He had the greatest admiration for Raphael and Paul Veronese. In statuary his favorite models were the Venus de Medici, and Niobe. He was a favorite of Pope Paul V. He re-turned to Bologna, where he was very popular. He was overwhelmed with commissions, but he wasted his gain in gambling and died in 1642 in abject poverty. His masterpiece is the Aurora.

( Originally Published 1912 )