Famous Italian artists – Caravaggio

Michelangelo Merisi da Caravaggio, mainly known as Caravaggio, was a famous Italian painter of the 15th century. He is particularly known for his alternative style, which combined both Naturalism and Tenebrism.

Born in Milan, Caravaggio began his apprenticeship as a painter in 1584 under the Milanese painter Simone Peterzano, who in turn had been the apprentice of another great Italian artist, Titian.

Among the most famous Italian painters, Caravaggio is surely the one with the most irascible disposition. Thing this, that lead him into some trouble during his life.

To begin with, few years after the end of his apprenticeship, he left Milan and moved quickly to Rome because he had been involved in some quarrels and a police officer had been wounded.

When in Rome, Caravaggio started to collaborate with Giuseppe Cesari, the Pope’s most favourite artist. However, after some time, Caravaggio was forced to stop this collaboration due to an illness that confined him to a hospital bed.

When he recovered, his talent drew the attention of Cardinal Francesco Maria del Monte and in 1600 he was called to decorate the Contarelli Chapel in the church of St. Louis of the French.

After this work, Caravaggio had many paintings commissioned. The majority of them were religious works – i.e. The taking of Christ,  Death of the Virgin, Sacrifice of Isaac, etc.
However, it seems that some of these paintings were at the end rejected by their commissioners and had to be repainted.
Indeed, even if the talent of Caravaggio was undeniable, his style was considered by many people outrageous and vulgar.
This was because, unlike the paintings of his contemporaries, who featured idealized subjects, Caravaggio’s were incredibly realistic. He was inspired by what he saw in everyday life and painted his subjects with a gritty realism, with all their flaws and defects.

In 1606, Caravaggio killed Ranuccio Tommasoni. The circumstances that lead to this killing are still unknown. What is sure, is that Caravaggio was sentenced to death by beheading.

Caravaggio managed to fly to Naples. Protected by the Colonnas, a very powerful noble family, his fame grew also in Naples, and he was commissioned many important works like: Salome with the head of John the Baptist, David with the head of Goliath, The crucifixion of Saint Andrew, Madonna of the Rosary, etc.

After few months, however, he moved to Malta, probably hoping that the patronage of Alof de Wignacourt could help him secure immunity for the murder of Tommasoni.

De Wignacourt was so honored to have Caravaggio working for him that he decided to appoint him knight.

However, Caravaggio’s irascible disposition got him again into trouble. Indeed, in 1608 he was arrested – probably due to a brawl during which a knight was injured – imprisoned, and expelled from the Order of Maltese knights.

He managed to escape from prison and in 1608 he flew to Sicily, were he managed to get many other prestigious commissions.

He died in 1610 at 38 years old in Porto Ercole under mysterious circumstances, after the Pope declared that was willing to secure him a pardon.

CARAVAGGIO’S PAINTING IN ROME

As you will be well aware of, 2015-2016 is the year of Jubilee. So, if you’re visiting Rome, among many others historical attractions, here are some places you can visit to see some of Caravaggio’s paintings:

Borghese Gallery: Boy with a basket of fruit, Young sick Bacchus,  Madonna and child with St. Anne,  St Jerome, a version of John the Baptist and David with the head of Goliath.
Doria Pamphilj Gallery: Penitent Magdalene, Rest on the flight into Egypt, a version of John the Baptist.
Capitoline Museums: a version of John the Baptist.
Palazzo Barberini: Judith beheading Holofernes, Narcissus.
Vatican Museums: The entombment of Christ.
The church of St. Louis of the French: The calling of St. Matthew, The martyrdom of St. Matthew, The inspiration of St. Matthew.

Did you know Caravaggio? What’s your favourite paintings?

If you want to read something about another famous Italian artist, you can read the article about Michelangelo.

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Credits

Painting by Michelangelo Merisi da Caravaggio [Public domain], via Wikimedia Commons