Gian Battista Bolognini

Gian Battista Bolognini was an artist active across the first half of the seventeenth century, documenting his production of prints between 1621 and 1650. His documented output focuses primarily on religious narratives rendered in the print medium.

Bolognini’s practice often centered on translating large-scale compositions by established masters, demonstrating his role in disseminating important artistic styles through high-quality prints. Several of the works documented in museum collections are executed "after Reni," including the print Christ on the cross, Saint John the Baptist at right, Mary Magdelene and the Virgin at left, after Reni. The artist also produced several powerful depictions of violent biblical events, notably Kindermoord te Betlehem and multiple versions of the Massacre of the Innocents.

Six of Bolognini’s prints are currently represented in international collections, establishing the museum-quality status of his graphic work. Significant repositories holding these works include the Metropolitan Museum of Art and the Rijksmuseum. Other known subjects include Christ giving the keys of the church to Saint Peter who kneels before him. Today, these historic Gian Battista Bolognini prints are often available as downloadable artwork through institutional public domain catalogs.