Caravaggio

Michelangelo Merisi da Caravaggio was an Italian Baroque painter whose striking realism and dramatic use of chiaroscuro revolutionised Western art. Trained in Milan, Caravaggio moved to Rome in the early 1590s, quickly gaining recognition for his bold, emotionally charged compositions. His early paintings, including Boy with a Basket of Fruit and The Fortune Teller, display an acute observation of nature and the human form.

Caravaggio's technique of tenebrism — the intense contrast between light and dark — brought an unprecedented psychological depth to his religious and mythological subjects. Paintings such as The Calling of Saint Matthew and Judith Beheading Holofernes exemplify his ability to heighten narrative drama through this innovative lighting. His unidealised figures, often painted from life, further grounded his works in gritty realism, challenging the prevailing artistic conventions of idealised beauty. His striking depiction of Medusa on a ceremonial shield, commissioned by Cardinal del Monte, exemplifies his skill in merging mythological terror with lifelike intensity.

Despite his artistic success, Caravaggio’s volatile temper frequently embroiled him in violent altercations. In 1606, he fled Rome after killing a man in a brawl, spending the following years in Naples, Malta and Sicily. During this period, his style evolved, with works like The Seven Works of Mercy reflecting an intensified emotional gravity and spiritual resonance.

While his career was marked by personal turmoil, Caravaggio’s influence endured. His bold naturalism inspired artists across Europe, including the Caravaggisti, a group of followers who adopted his dramatic style. His legacy shaped the development of Baroque painting, with echoes of his technique evident in the works of Rubens, Rembrandt and Velázquez.

Caravaggio's death in 1610, under mysterious circumstances, remains the subject of speculation. Nevertheless, his body of work continues to captivate and challenge viewers, underscoring his status as one of the most transformative figures in the history of Western art.