Francesco Gessi (1588-1649) - Lucrezia

Giovan Francesco Gessi (often cited only as Francesco) (Bologna, 20 January 1588 - Bologna, 15 September 1649)

Oil painting on panel

Expertiese: Prof. Alessandro Nesi

Dimensions: width 32 cm, height 44 cm


Francesco Gessi was an Italian painter, active in the Baroque era and working mainly in Bologna. He was born into a noble family and therefore destined for a life of ease. Following his precocious inclination towards painting, his father allowed him to follow this inclination and he went to the workshop of Denijs Calvaert. This did not last long as he soon came into conflict with the master's other pupils from a more modest class. He then moved on to Guido Reni's workshop. From this stepping stone, it was easy for him to obtain commissions in Ravenna, Mantua (work inside the Ducal Palace) and Naples where he did not complete the work due to a very dangerous competitive atmosphere in the Neapolitan city. It was the decoration of the Chapel of San Gennaro that marked the beginning of the disagreements between Gessi and Reni. Back in Bologna, he began a campaign against his master Guido Reni, attempting to compete with him by repudiating his teachings. He managed, despite everything, to open his own workshop in Bologna with Giovanni Giacomo Sementi, his main collaborator when they were together in Guido Reni's workshop. Among his pupils were the brothers Giovanni Battista and Ercolino Ruggiero, Giacomo Castellini, Francesco Correggio and Giulio Trogli.