Guido Reni: The Coronation of the Virgin at The National Gallery of London

Paintings of the coronation of the Virgin Mary typically show her being crowned by Christ and God the Father, often accompanied by the Holy Ghost in the form of a dove. This work, however, mixes elements of the coronation with those of Mary's Assumption. Attended by angels, the Virgin sits on the throne of clouds. His style, which fused elements of classical idealism with close observation of the natural world, was perpetuated through the activity of an exceptionally large and productive studio and emulated by many artists across Europe. His early work displays the distinctive traits of his structured academic training, a balance of classicism and more realistic representations, and his figures, imbued with monumentality and grace, convey a strong sense of human emotion. Guido Reni was a widely acclaimed painter and draftsman in 17th-century Italy, renowned for his elegant interpretations of religious and mythological scenes. Born in Bologna in 1575, Reni began training in his hometown with the Flemish master Denis Calvaert in about 1584. He moved to Rome in the early 1600s to work on the ceiling frescoes for the Casino dell'Aurora in the Palazzo Farnese, and also undertook a number of important independent commissions.