Caravaggio

Who Was Caravaggio?

Caravaggio, born Michelangelo Merisi da Caravaggio in 1571, was a revolutionary and highly influential Italian artist whose work shaped the course of Baroque painting. Known for his bold, innovative style, Caravaggio’s use of chiaroscuro—an intense contrast between light and dark—became a defining feature of his art, giving his work a dramatic and emotional depth. Despite his short life, Caravaggio’s legacy in the art world remains significant. His career was marked by controversy, including a notorious incident in which he killed a man during a brawl, prompting his flight from Rome. Caravaggio died on July 18, 1610, at the age of 38.

Early Years

Born in Caravaggio, Italy, Caravaggio entered a tumultuous world, with his birth occurring just a week before the Battle of Lepanto, a pivotal naval conflict between Christian forces and the Ottoman Empire. Caravaggio’s early life was marred by tragedy; his father, Fermo Merisi, who worked as a steward and architect, died when Caravaggio was young. The loss was compounded when Caravaggio’s mother and siblings succumbed to the bubonic plague, leaving him orphaned at the age of 11. This traumatic experience was later believed to have had a profound effect on his adult behavior, contributing to his frequent transgressions against authority.

Following the loss of his family, Caravaggio moved to Milan, where he apprenticed under the painter Simone Peterzano. By the time he was in his late teens, Caravaggio had moved to Rome in search of work, where he initially struggled to gain recognition. He found employment assisting less skilled painters, gradually developing his own style and vision. By 1595, Caravaggio began selling his paintings independently, and his work soon caught the attention of Cardinal Francesco del Monte, a key patron who provided him with both financial support and the opportunity to work in a private residence.

Rise to Prominence

Caravaggio’s early works included pieces such as Boy with a Basket of Fruit, The Young Bacchus, and The Music Party, many of which featured young male figures in naturalistic, sometimes provocative poses. His works were marked by a distinctive realism and psychological intensity, which contrasted sharply with the idealized depictions of the time. One of Caravaggio’s notable early influences was his assistant, Cecco, who appeared in several of his paintings and may have had a personal relationship with the artist.

In 1597, Caravaggio was awarded the prestigious commission to decorate the Contarelli Chapel in the Church of San Luigi dei Francesi in Rome. Tasked with creating three large paintings illustrating the life of St. Matthew, Caravaggio completed The Calling of St. Matthew, The Martyrdom of St. Matthew, and St. Matthew and the Angel by 1601. These works marked a significant shift in Caravaggio’s approach, as he rejected the traditional, idealized representations of saints, opting instead for gritty, human portrayals that reflected the raw realities of life. His depiction of St. Matthew, in particular, was controversial for its realism and irreverence.

Despite initial backlash from both the church and the public, the Contarelli Chapel commission provided Caravaggio with significant exposure and propelled him into the forefront of the Roman art scene. His subsequent works, including The Crucifixion of St. Peter, The Conversion of St. Paul, The Deposition of Christ, and the infamous Death of the Virgin, showcased his ability to inject intense emotion and realism into religious scenes. The Death of the Virgin, with its unidealized portrayal of the Virgin Mary, was rejected by the Carmelites and eventually found its way to the Duke of Mantua.

Caravaggio’s ability to infuse ordinary, sometimes controversial subjects with divine light and darkened shadows redefined religious art of his time and left a lasting impact on future generations of artists. His boldness and uncompromising vision made him a polarizing figure, but also one of the most influential painters in the history of Western art.

Troubled Life

Caravaggio’s fame was inextricably linked to the controversy that marked his personal life. His increasing success as a painter was paralleled by escalating turmoil in his own behavior. Known for his violent tendencies, erratic mood swings, and a lifestyle steeped in drinking and gambling, Caravaggio was often at the center of physical altercations.

In 1603, he was briefly incarcerated after an altercation with another artist, but his temper continued to cause trouble. In 1604, he threw a plate of artichokes at a waiter, and in 1605, he attacked Roman guards with stones. One observer described his behavior as erratic, noting, “After a fortnight’s work, he will swagger about for a month or two with a sword at his side and a servant following him, ever ready to engage in a fight or an argument.”

Caravaggio’s most notorious act of violence came in 1606 when he killed the well-known Roman pimp Ranuccio Tomassoni. Historians have long debated the motive behind the murder, with theories ranging from an unresolved debt to a dispute over a tennis game. More recently, scholars such as Andrew Graham-Dixon have suggested that Caravaggio may have been driven by a romantic obsession with Tomassoni’s wife, Lavinia.

On The Run

After the murder, Caravaggio fled Rome, seeking refuge in cities such as Naples, Malta, and Sicily. Despite his fugitive status, his fame continued to grow. In Malta, he was initially inducted into the Order of Malta as a Knight of Justice, though this honor was revoked once his crime was discovered. Nonetheless, Caravaggio continued to paint, creating works like Madonna of the Rosary in Naples and The Seven Works of Mercy for the Pio Chapel in Monte della Misericordia.

In Malta, he produced Beheading of St. John the Baptist for the cathedral in Valletta, and in Messina, he painted The Resurrection of Lazarus and The Adoration of the Shepherds. In Palermo, his notable works included Adoration with St. Francis and St. Lawrence.

Among his most startling creations from this period is Resurrection, in which Caravaggio depicts a weary, disheveled Christ emerging from his tomb at night—a powerful reflection of his own tumultuous existence. By this time, Caravaggio had become a nervous wreck, constantly on the run and living in fear for his life, often sleeping fully clothed with a dagger by his side.

Later Years

Caravaggio’s violent nature did not subside in his later years. In July 1608, he attacked Fra Giovanni Rodomonte Roero, a senior knight in the Order of St. John in Malta, resulting in his imprisonment. He escaped a month later, but Roero’s revenge was swift. In 1609, he tracked Caravaggio to Naples, where he assaulted the painter outside a tavern, leaving Caravaggio disfigured.

The attack had a profound effect on Caravaggio’s physical and mental state. His vision and technique suffered, as seen in his later works like The Martyrdom of Saint Ursula and The Denial of Saint Peter.

In an attempt to avoid prosecution for murder, Caravaggio sought a pardon from the pope. With the support of friends working on his behalf, he began his journey back to Rome in 1610. However, upon stopping in Palo, he was arrested. After his release, he continued his journey, but tragically died on July 18, 1610, at Port’Ercole.

For centuries, the exact cause of Caravaggio’s death remained uncertain. In 2010, scientists studying his remains discovered high levels of lead in his bones, suggesting that lead poisoning—likely caused by his use of lead-based paints—may have contributed to his mental instability and, ultimately, his death. Lead poisoning is also thought to have played a role in the demise of Francisco Goya.

Influence

Though Caravaggio was largely shunned during his lifetime and immediately after his death, his legacy has endured. Today, he is recognized as one of the foundational figures of modern painting. His dramatic use of light and shadow, along with his intense realism, left a profound mark on future artists, including Diego Velázquez and Rembrandt. A 2010 exhibition in Rome marking the 400th anniversary of his death attracted more than 580,000 visitors, a testament to his lasting influence on the world of art.