2106. PORTRAIT OF THE ARTIST.
Benedetto Gennari (Bolognese: 1633-1715).
The artist was the nephew and scholar of Guercino. He came to England in 1674, and was for some time in the service of Charles II. and James II. "I once saw," says Lanzi, "a Bathsheba of Guercino, along with a copy by one of the Gennari. The former appeared as if newly painted at the time, and the latter as if many years previously, such was its inferiority in strength of hand.... Benedetto subsequently formed for himself a style in England, more polished and careful, and exemplified it more particularly in his portraits."