Guercino

Giovanni Francesco Barbieri (1591–1666), better known by his nickname 'Guercino' ('Squinter', because he was cross-eyed) was born into a poor family in Cento. Precocious, he was largely self taught, but was encouraged by Ludovico Carracci and patronized by the Gonzaga Duke of Mantua and several influential clerics, notably the Bolognese Cardinal, Alessandro Ludovisi. When he moved to Bologna in 1615 he became known for painting with dramatic chiaroscuro effects, echoing some of Ludovico's later works.

In 1616 Guercino founded the 'Academy of the Nude' in Cento, similar to the Carracci's school in Bologna and produced a series of anatomical sketches for his students. An expert draughtsman whose lively drawings were in great demand among collectors, he famously fast with the brush, completing some 250 major altarpieces and paintings in his career.