Francesco Gessi (Bologna 1588–1649) Attr. - Lucrezia

Attributed to Giovan Francesco Gessi (often cited only as Francesco) (Bologna, January 20, 1588 – Bologna, September 15, 1649) Oil painting on panel Expertise: Prof. Alessandro Nesi Dimensions: width 32 cm, height 44 cm Francesco Gessi was an Italian painter, active during the Baroque era and mainly operating in Bologna. Born into a noble family, and therefore destined for a life of ease, following his early 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 immediately came into conflict with the other students of the master who belonged to a more modest social class. He then moved to the workshop of Guido Reni. From this springboard it was easy for him to obtain commissions in Ravenna, Mantua (works inside the Ducal Palace) and Naples where he did not consider completing the work due to a very dangerous competitive atmosphere present in the city of Naples. It was the decoration of the Chapel of San Gennaro that marked the beginning of disagreements between Gessi and Reni. Returning to Bologna he began a campaign against his master Guido Reni, trying to compete with him by renouncing his teachings. Despite everything, he managed to open his own workshop in Bologna with Giovanni Giacomo Sementi, his main collaborator when they were together at Guido Reni's workshop. Among his students were the brothers Giovanni Battista and Ercolino Ruggiero, Giacomo Castellini, Francesco Correggio and Giulio Trogli.