GUERCINO, gwer-ebelno (It., squint-eyed), a nickname of GIOVANNI FRANCESCO BARBIERI (1591-1660). An Italian painter. He was born at Cento, near Bologna, February 8. 1591, the son of a peasant. There is a difference in opinion as to his first masters at Cento and in Bologna, hut they were certainly of the Eclectic School, and it is likely that he was influenced by the works of Lodovico Carracci (q.v.). His earliest works, however, show the influence of Caravaggio (q.v.), whose pictures he certainly saw, and are marked by strong contrasts of light and shade and by the naturalism of that master. In 1616 Guercino founded a popular school of painting at Cento; in 1619 and 1620 he visited Ferrara at Venice, and in 1621-23 he was at Rome. The in fluence of these travels is seen in the works of his second period, which are his best. His designs be came grander, his sense of color more refined, and his heads more characteristic. To this period belong the "Raising of Saint Petronella." in the museum of the Capitol at Rome; his fresco of "Aurora." in the Villa Ludovisi, Rome; and his "Saint William of Aquitaine Assuming the Monk's Garb," in the Gallery of Bologna. Upon the death of his patron. Gregory XV., in 1623, Guercino returned to Cento, where he made his home until 1642. In 1619 he painted the.frescoes of the' cupola of the Cathedral of Piacenza—a remarkable technical production, in coloring, fore shortening, and relief. The subjects represented are: "Prophets with Angels," "Sibyls," and "Scenes from the New Testament."
Upon the death of Guido Reni (q.v.) in 1642, Guercino attempted to fill his place at Bologna. He imitated Guido's manner, but without success, losing his own strength and vigor. Most of his pictures in Bologna and several in the Louvre are in this last manner. He died at Bologna, Febru ary 22, 1666, leaving a large school. His house at Cento, with its fine paintings and fresco decorations, is still preserved, and the church there also contains several of his works.
Gucrcino left 250 large pictures, besides fres coes and smaller works, and a number of draw ings. Among his chief paintings, besides those mentioned above, are: "Saint Bruno and His Companions in the Desert," in the Gallery of Bologna, and the "Capture of Saint Roch" (1618), a fresco in San Rocco, Bologna; "Saint Peter Raising Tabitha," in the Pitti Palace, Flor ence; the "Death of Dido," in the Spada Palace, Rome; "Abraham Casting Off Hagar," in the Brera, Milan; the "Prodigal Son," in the Museum of Turin, the last two belonging to his later period; "Cephalos and Procris," at Dresden; the "Ecstasy of Saint Francis," in the Louvre; the "Assumption of the Virgin," at Saint-Peters burg. Consult: Calvi, Notizie della vita, di Barbicre (Bologna, 1842) ; Malvasia, Felsina pit trice (ib., 1678) ; Dohme, Kunst and Kunstler Italiens, vol. iii. (Leipzig, 1887).