Guido Reni

Happy Birthday Guido Reni!! Italian Baroque painter born in 1575, Reni came from a musical family. He apprenticed at age 9 to a Bolognese studio, eventually relocating in Rome with Carracci, creating altarpieces in a famous workshop. Considered his best work, the ceiling fresco Aurora is located in Rome. It depicts Apollo commanding the chariot of the Sun with Dawn preceding him. The complementary colors of blue and orange lend a dynamic air to the majestic scene. His figures exhibit the influence of Raphael. Reni does not employ the traditional perspective normally used in ceiling frescoes to take into account viewing from below.