Ercole de Maria, Penitent Saint Peter, Oil on Canvas, 17th Century, Framed

Details

Description

Ercole De Maria (…. – 1640 ca.)
Title: Penitent Saint Peter
Medium: Oil on canvas
Dimensions: without frame 66 × … Read more Ercole De Maria (…. – 1640 ca.)
Title: Penitent Saint Peter
Medium: Oil on canvas
Dimensions: without frame 66 × 50 cm – with frame 80.2 x 60.2 x 5.7 cm
Not signed

Expertise by Andrea Emiliani, art historian

Little is known about the life of this painter from San Giovanni in Persiceto (Bologna), but his activity was mainly as a copyist of works by Guido Reni (1575-1642). In fact, Ercole de Maria is unanimously remembered by sources as the best-known pupil-copist of Guido Reni. He entered Guido Reni's workshop before 1630, after a brief internship with Francesco Gessi. He was awarded a knighthood by Pope Urban VIII, but died young. Ercole de Maria became Guido Reni's most trusted pupil, and in fact developed exceptional skills in counterfeiting the master's works. The canvas, which is in an excellent state of preservation, was painted by Ercole de Maria with great fluency of touch. The subject of the painting is St. Peter, a subject that Guido Reni replicated several times. See less