Carlo Bononi worked mainly in Ferrara, where he enjoyed commissions from the city’s wealthiest and sophisticated patrons. Many of his works have been confused with various pupils of the Carracci; his vigorous naturalism, drawn from the Bolognese manner, set his work quite apart from the anecdotal and atmospheric work of his Ferrarese near-contemporary Scarsellino. Indeed, following the death of Scarsellino in 1620, Bononi completely monopolized Ferrara’s most important artistic commissions.
