The Personification of Astrology

This painting follows the composition of Guercino’s Personification of Astrology (Blanton Museum of Art, Austin, TX, inv. no. 1984.57), which Barbara Ghelfi associates with the following entry in the artist’s libro dei conti ('account book'), dated 1658: 'Dal Ill: Sig Co: Girolamo Ranuzi si è ricevuto Ducatoni trenta, per la Strologia che fu fatta li Anni passati e questi fanno Scudi 37' ('From the Illustrious Lord Count Girolamo Ranuzi, thirty Ducatoni were received for Astrology, which was painted in past years, totaling 37 Scudi.'; Il libro dei conti del Guercino (1629–1666), B. Ghelfi ed., Venice, 1997, p. 183, no. 537).

According to Guercino’s account book, he painted an earlier version of this subject—still untraced—which is recorded in a 1635 entry: 'Dal Em. Sig. Card. Spada, si è ricevuto Zanfroni n. 30. Per compim. della Astrologia, fanno Scudi 34' ('From the Most Eminent Lord Cardinal Spada, 30 Zanfroni were received. For the completion of Astrology, totaling 34 Scudi.'; op. cit., p. 79, no. 113).

We are grateful to Daniele Benati for endorsing the attribution to Cesare Gennari on the basis of images.