GIOVANNI FRANCESCO GUERRIERI called the GUERCINO (from) (Cento, 1591 - Bologna, 1666) The Burial and Glory of Saint Petronilla Oil on canvas, 167X100 cm The painting is taken from the large altarpiece commissioned to Guercino by Pope Gregory XV in December 1621 and destined for the altar dedicated to Saint Petronilla in St. Peter's Basilica, where it was placed in 1623. Without doubt, the commission of this work was the most important of the artist's career. The canvas remained in its original location until 1730, when it was replaced by a mosaic copy and in 1797 it was requisitioned by Napoleon's troops and returned in 1818, when it was destined for the Capitoline collections. Reference bibliography: N. Turner, The Paintings of Guercino. A revised and Expanded Catalogue raisoné, Rome 2017, ad vocem