CANUTI Domenico Maria

(Bologna 1626 – 1684)

Painter and engraver born in Bologna, son of Luca and Santina, brother of Giulia, also painter and wife of the etcher Domenico Maria Bonaveri.
After a short period of work at a goldsmith laboratory, he studied drawing at the painter Giovan Battista Bertusi. Later on, Count Roderico Pepoli first introduced him to the school of Guido Reni, where Canuti worked until his master’s death in 1642.

Canuti was fortunate enough to be noticed by Taddeo Pepoli, belonging to the Olivetano religious order, and member of one of the most influential families in Bologna.

Domenico Maria was a painter who loved the technique of fresco on vaults and walls. Between 1646 and 1651 and later in 1672 he worked in Rome where he was a pupil of Giovanni Lanfranco. His most ancient remaining work is probably the two frescoes for the tribune of Santa Francesca Romana in Rome.

Here, besides performing other frescoes in several churches, he participated togheter with Francesco Cozza and Carlo Maratti at the decoration of Palazzo Altieri and Palazzo Colonna.

Back in Bologna he completed the frescoes of San Michele in Bosco and Palazzo Pepoli. In Mantua he performed works on the commission of the Duke and oil paintings for religious orders. The canvas Appearance of Jesus in Santa Teresa, in the church of S. Teresa in Mantua, may date back to his stay in Mantua: there is an existing engraving of this work done by his nephew Domenico Bonaveri showing the phrase “things outlined by the erudite paintbrush of Domenico Maria Canuti my revered master. ” In Padua he painted canvases for the church of St. Benedict Novello of the Fathers Olivetani. In bad health in April 1684 Canuti, now dying, made his will and died two days later. His production of engravings counts little more than a dozen religious works performed in the style of Guido Reni.