The Divine Guido: Religion, Sex, Money, and Art in the World of Guido Reni

About this book

In this highly original study of Italian baroque master Guido Reni (1575-1642) Richard Spear paints a compelling portrait of the artist -- his complexities his formative experiences his cultural surroundings and his unique sensibilities. Spear views Renis career from a wide variety of perspectives and sets his life and works in social economic historical artistic religious and psychological contexts. The author focuses first on Renis peculiar character: a man at once deeply religious rabidly misogynist reportedly virginal neurotically fearful of witches and addicted to gambling. Drawing on psychoanalytical feminine and gay studies Spear reveals how the artists personality affected his studio procedures style and choice of subject matter including an exceptional number of representations of de-sexualized suicidal women. Spear also examines Renis "divine grace" which elevated him to the loftiest artistic ranks alongside Raphael and Apelles. The author considers the enduring charisma of Renis Crucifixions weeping Marys and repentant saints in the light of the Catholic doctrinal meaning of grace in Renis time the Churchs attitude toward Mary and women and the gendered implications of visual grace. Chapters on Renis pricing policies selling strategies use of assistants and attitude toward what constituted an "original" expose the motivating importance of money for Reni and the concerns even among seventeenth-century collectors about how to distinguish original paintings from studio replicas or copies. The book investigates the ways Renaissance and baroque attitudes toward art-making affected Reni and closes with a fresh view of Renis unfinishedcanvases and last style including the Divine Love the beautiful and unusual painting that remained in Renis studio at the time of his death.