Simone Cantarini (Pesarese) Paintings

Simone Cantarini, known as Il Pesarese, was an Italian painter and engraver of the Baroque period. Born in 1612 in Pesaro, a town in the Marche region of Italy, Cantarini started his artistic training under the guidance of Giovanni Giacomo Pandolfi. His early works were influenced by the styles of Pandolfi and Claudio Ridolfi, but his encounter with the works of Guido Reni had a profound impact on his painting style.

Cantarini moved to Bologna in 1635, where he had the opportunity to work in Reni's workshop. Under Reni's tutelage, Cantarini developed a graceful and refined painting style characterized by soft, delicate coloring and clear, harmonious compositions. His admiration for Reni was such that his own style became a close reflection of his master's, earning him the nickname 'Il Pesarese del Guido' (Guido's Pesarese).

Despite his success, Cantarini's relationship with Reni became strained, and he left Bologna around 1643. He traveled and worked in various cities, including Mantua, where he was influenced by the works of Peter Paul Rubens, and Venice, where the colorism of Venetian painting left a mark on his style. Cantarini was also an accomplished printmaker, and his etchings reflect the same high quality and sensitivity as his paintings.

Cantarini's works include religious subjects, portraits, and mythological scenes. His ability to infuse his subjects with a sense of spirituality and emotion made him popular during his lifetime. Some of his notable works are 'The Madonna and Child with Saints' in the Brera Gallery, Milan, and 'The Assumption of the Virgin' in the Dresden Gallery.

Unfortunately, Cantarini's life was cut short when he died of a fever at the age of 36 in Verona, in 1648. Despite his early death, Cantarini left behind a significant body of work that had an impact on the Baroque art movement in Italy. His legacy continued through his pupils, including Giuseppe Maria Crespi, who became one of the foremost painters of the late Baroque period in Italy.