Follower of Guido Reni, Archangel Michael Reni, 1700, Oil on Canvas

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Description

The archangel michael

guido reni (bologna 1575 - 1642) workshop/follower of

17th-18th century

oil on canvas (104 x 68 cm. … Read more The archangel michael

guido reni (bologna 1575 - 1642) workshop/follower of

17th-18th century

oil on canvas (104 x 68 cm. - framed 109 x 68 cm.)

this high-quality painting is based on guido reni's famous saint michael the archangel, created in 1635 for the capuchin church in rome (photo 1), erected with a donation from cardinal antonio barberini (1569-1646), brother of urban viii.

after an intense education in bologna, in 1602, the twenty-seven-year-old guido reni went to rome, quickly becoming a celebrated interpreter of the tastes of the most culturally influential circles, and earning the patronage of such great figures as popes paul v, urban viii, and scipione borghese.

the archangel michael, engaged here in the battle against evil, is depicted as a youth of rare beauty, simultaneously strong and delicate. With his sword drawn, he pushes an enraged devil back to hell, trampling his head underfoot. The soft draperies envelop the angel's body with an intense classicism, where a balanced composition draws the viewer's attention to his angelic face.

it was widely recognized and admired by his contemporaries, and the painting immediately enjoyed incredible success, partly due to the controversy it sparked among the pamphili family, a family long at odds with the barberini family, who commissioned the canvas.

in fact, reni, having learned that cardinal giovanni battista pamphili, the future pope innocent x, had defamed him, in revenge, he personified the devil with the face of the same cardinal. Guido reni's cunning was to exploit the historic rivalry between two of the most influential families in 17th-century rome, the barberini and the pamphili, for his own personal revenge, while simultaneously bringing his work sudden fame.

reni attempted this subject on several occasions, greatly appreciated by his clients thanks to the composition's formal clarity and overall balance, which still make it one of the cornerstones of roman classicism.

with the help of his workshop, he often returned to the same subjects, producing versions of his most successful compositions. This makes it difficult to distinguish between autograph replicas, workshop works, often enhanced by his intervention, and copies that become independent reinterpretations by some of his best students.

we can safely assume that the canvas presented here is the work of an artist from reni's workshop or a follower, created after his death.

additional information:

the painting is sold complete with a gold frame and comes with a certificate of authenticity and a descriptive iconographic sheet. This piece is attributed to the mentioned designer/maker. It has no attribution mark and no
official proof of authenticity,
however it is well documented in design history. I take full responsibility for any authenticity



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