Guido Reni was an Italian painter during the Baroque period. Although his works were influenced by classical styles, they also showed a unique style. The paintings he created were similar to those of Philippe de Champaigne, Nicolas Poussin, and Simon Vouet. His work included religious, mythological, and allegorical subjects. 

In the early seventeenth century, Reni lived in Rome, where he was overshadowed by Caravaggio's fame. In order to maintain his own style, he tried to imitate Caravaggio's deep shadows and rough peasant types. However, the artist felt underpaid by the papal ministers, so he left Rome and settled in Bologna.

Reni's work was very influential. Despite his youth, he was able to establish himself as an independent painter. His first major independent commission was the ceiling frescoes in the Casino dell'Aurora of the Palazzo Farnese. In the 1820s, he was appointed the figurehead of the Bolognese school, replacing Annibale Carracci.

While his works were based on the classical tradition, Guido Reni remained an elegant painter with a distinct sense of style. He often painted mythological and religious subjects, and was a close contemporary of Raphael and Nicholas Poussin. His work is characterized by a strong pictorial style, a refined use of contrast and differentiated chiaroscuro. The subjects and figures in his work are serene and deceptively beautiful.