[1] He knew Guercino and was eulogized by Guido Reni as having a "bounty of a most honest life, a great knowledge of design, and strength in colorizing".
Bononi rose to prominence in Ferrara after the death of the painter Scarsellino, and was subsequently called to Rome.
He was initially buried in Santa Maria in Vado, for which he had helped decorate the ceiling with various canvases.
Among his pupils were Alfonso Rivarola (il Chenda), Giovanni Battista dalla Torre, and Camillo Berlinghieri.
An important exhibition has been held at Palazzo dei Diamanti in Ferrara in Autumn 2017.