Key to Umbria
 

Self-portrait (ca. 1635)

Musée du Louvre, Paris

Giovanni Francesco Barbieri, who was known as il Guercino because of his squint, was born in Cento, a town near Bologna, and had moved to that city by 1615.  He worked in Rome in Rome in 1621-3 for the Bolognese Pope Gregory XV.  He was a prolific artist, and many of his works survive.

Perugia

SS Peter and Paul (17th century)

     

These panels, which are attributed to il Guercino are in the right aisle of San Pietro.

Spoleto

St Mary Magdalene (17th century) 

This altarpiece from the nunnery of Santa Maria Maddalena is attributed to the workshop of il Guercino.  It belonged to Alfonso Palettoni, who was Governor of Cento (Guercino's native town) in 1636-7, and his heirs gave it to the Confraternita di Santa Maria Maddalena.  When the confraternity was suppressed, its members moved the precious altarpiece to the Duomo and hid it behind another in an attempt to avoid its confiscation.  Unfortunately, it was discovered and duly confiscated.  It is now in the Sala dei Duchi of Palazzo Comunale. 


 

Terni

Resurrection of Lazarus (17th century)

This panel in the Museo Diocesano is attributed to il Guercino.


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Giovanni Francesco Barbieri, il Guercino (1591-1666)  


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