Oil on copper, 23cm by 17.5cm.
This little painting on copper is based on a drawing attributed to Guido Reni.
An old inscription on the reverse: ‘Simon Cantarini Watif de Pezarea contemporaiz de guido,’ suggests that it might be by Simone Cantarini (1612-1648), one of Reni’s pupils.
Guido Reni was born into a family of musicians in Bologna, where he trained in the studio of Denis Calvaert (1540-1619) from a very early age.
He became a leading artist of the Bolognese School, establishing two studios, which between them had almost two hundred pupils, through whom his influence was assured.
He was also active in both Rome and Naples.
