Attributed To Giovanni Francesco Barbieri, Il Guercino (1591–1666) - Saint Paul

Attributed to Giovanni Francesco Barbieri, Il Guercino (1591–1666)
Saint Paul

Oil on canvas,
63 x 52.5 cm

Provenance
Private collection, France

This painting, depicting Saint Paul in a meditative posture with a sword in hand, has been the subject of differing attributions. Professor Emilio Negro considered it to be the work of Ercole Gennari, a pupil and collaborator of Guercino. However, following a recent auction where another painting from the same series exceeded €20,000, several informed collectors suggest that this piece could, in fact, be by Guercino himself.

“The quality of the light on Saint Paul’s forehead and the reflections on the sword are far superior to what is usually attributed to Ercole Gennari. The modeling of the hand is also highly refined. This could very well be a Saint Paul by Guercino,” some connoisseurs argue.

The powerful chiaroscuro, the masterfully controlled lighting effects, and the intense expressiveness of the gaze are all hallmarks of the Bolognese master. A major figure of the Italian Baroque, Guercino excelled in dramatizing sacred figures, blending Caravaggesque realism with the softness of the Carracci school. This painting bears a strong resemblance to the Saint Paul housed in the Louvre (INV 80; MR 264), both in its gesture and in the psychological depth of the character.

While the definitive attribution remains a subject of debate, the richness of the modeling, the subtlety of the reflections, and the profound emotion emanating from this work suggest a hand more expert than that of Ercole Gennari. Undoubtedly, this is a painting of exceptional quality, worthy of Guercino’s workshop—if not the master himself.