Flora

Carlo Cignani, also known as Conte, was the leading Bolognese master during the latter part of the seventeenth century and was generally considered Correggio's most talented follower. He began his studies in Bologna with Giovanni Battista del Cairo, before progressing to the studio of Francesco Albani. It was there that Cignani encountered the Bolognese classical tradition as established by Annibale Carracci, Domenichino, Reni and Albani's own work.

Cignani's paintings are known for their reflective, gentle style and the delicate and lifelike modelling of his figures, all qualities readily apparent in the present work.