Bartolomeo Cesi

Who was Bartolomeo Cesi?

Bartolomeo Cesi was a painter of the Baroque era of the Bolognese School.

Born to a wealthy family of Bologna, he studied under Giovanni Francesco Bezzo. In Bologna, he contributed works to the Duomo, San Procolo, and Santo Stefano. He collaborated with Ludovico Carracci and Prospero Fontana on some projects. His pious sobriety was influenced by his friendship with Cardinal Gabriele Paleotti of Bologna, who had attended the Council of Trent. His biography is contained in Carlo Cesare Malvasia's Felsina Pittrice.

He traveled to Rome and worked there with Scipione Pulzone, after his return in 1591, one of his project was a series of frescoes on the Passion of Christ for the Carthusian Monastery of San Girolamo in Bologna.

In 1595, Cesi completed the tryptich including the 'Adoration of the Magi and Virgin and Saints for the Basilica of San Domenico in Bologna.