Giovanni Francesco (otherwise called Guercino, from his squinting), an eminent historical painter, was born at Cento, a village not far from Bologna, in 1590. At first he was a disciple of Benedetto Gennari; but afterwards studied in the school of the Caracci, though he did not adopt the manner of that famous academy. He seemed to prefer the style of Caravaggio to that of Guido or Albano, imagining it impossible to imitate nature truly, without the assistance of strong lights and shadows; and on that principle the light was admitted into his atelier from above. His taste in design was natural, easy, and frequently grand. Towards the decline of his life he observed that the clearer and brighter style of Guido and Albano had attracted the admiration of all Europe; and he, accordingly, altered his manner, even against his own judgment. But he apologized for this conduct by declaring that formerly he had painted for fame and to please the judicious, but that now he painted to please the ignorant and enrich himself. He executed no fewer than 106 altar-pieces for churches, and 144 historical pictures, besides numerous works in fresco. His best performance is the history of Sta. Petronilla, which is considered one of the ornaments of St Peter's at Rome. He died in 1666.

Paolo Antonio, da Cento, painter of still life and animals, was the brother of Guercino, and born at Cento in 1596. He chose for his subjects fruits, flowers, insects, and animals, which he painted after nature with a lively tincture of colour, great tenderness of pencil, and a strong character of truth and life. He died in 1640.