Caravaggio paintings. Caravaggio: a great artist and a scandalous rebel

The outstanding Italian artist Caravaggio (1571-1610) is known not only for being the founder of realism in painting. The fact is that at sunset it arose, the most prominent representative of which was Michelangelo Merisi da Caravaggio (not to be confused with).

Portrait of Caravaggio by Ottavio Leoni, 1621

If you like interesting facts, then a brief description of the life of a brilliant master with his incredible adventures will definitely bring you pleasure.

It must be said right away that Caravaggio’s paintings truly impress even those who are not good at art. The fact is that the artist used the “chiaroscuro” technique, which consists of a sharp contrast of light and shadow. It was through this technique that the maestro emphasized the emotions and experiences of his characters in a special way.

An interesting fact is that Caravaggio, during his short life (he lived only 38 years), did not leave a single drawing or sketch. In other words, he realized all his ideas, even the most complex ones, immediately on canvas, without any preliminary stages.

Young Caravaggio

Born in the small Italian town of Caravaggio, which is located near, Michelangelo Merisi at the age of 13 goes to Peterzano's workshop. There he became acquainted with the art of painting, and by the age of 20, the young artist Caravaggio showed great promise.

However, his extremely harsh and hot-tempered nature prevents him from building a career. Constant scandals, fights and imprisonments accompanied him throughout his life. From Milan he was forced to urgently leave for Rome after a card game ended in scandal and murder.

Life in Rome

A very noteworthy observation here is that of the Italian priest Borromeo, who, having met Caravaggio, described him as follows:

“An uncouth and rude man, always wandering the streets and sleeping wherever he can, he draws vagabonds, beggars and drunkards, and seems to be a completely happy person.”

Caravaggio's first works were made under the noticeable influence of and. An interesting fact is that it was in Rome that Michelangelo Merisi received the nickname “Caravaggio” after the name of the city in which he was born. Since then, in art he has been known by this name.

After another fight, Caravaggio again ends up in prison, where he meets with Giordano Bruno. In 1593, for several months he was on the verge of life and death, as he became seriously ill with Roman fever (malaria). During his recovery, he painted his first self-portrait. The painting is called “Sick Bacchus”.

Most of all, his paintings on biblical subjects brought him fame. It is not clear how Caravaggio managed to combine them with a wild life and constant scandals. He indiscriminately attacked with a sword anyone who spoke ill of his works of art.

Flight from Rome

In 1606, the maestro was declared outlaw by Pope Paul V (his portrait is below). This meant that anyone could not only kill him, but also receive a reward for it. Of course, dad had reasons for such a serious decision.

It so happened that during the ball game a fight broke out between the two companies. One was led by Caravaggio, and the other by Ranuccio Tomassoni. Ultimately, Ranuccio Tomassoni was killed and the artist was accused of the crime.

Having gone on the run, he hides in the Colonna estate, where he paints the gloomy paintings “St. Francis in Thought” and “Supper at Emmaus.”

After that, he moves to Naples, and a year later - to. But then he again finds himself involved in some kind of scandal, and again ends up in prison. He was put in a so-called stone bag, but he somehow managed to escape from there.

In 1608, Caravaggio sailed to Sicily to the city of Syracuse. Moving around Sicilian cities, he painted his famous paintings.

Death and pardon

After several years, Cardinal Gonzaga begins to negotiate with Pope Paul V to pardon Caravaggio. Hoping for a positive decision, the artist plans to secretly move closer to Rome.

However, sailing from Naples, he disappears, and nothing is known about his further fate. There is only information, which not all historians trust, that he was allegedly detained in the Palo fortress, and then went on foot to Porto Ercole.

It was there that on July 18, for unknown reasons, the master died at the age of 38. And on July 31, a decree pardoning Caravaggio was published. In parallel with it, a message about the artist’s death was also published.

As we have already said, Caravaggio had a tremendous influence on art in general, and on the work of many outstanding artists in particular. However, his violent and incredibly hot-tempered character became the talk of the town.

Eyewitnesses say that when he painted the painting “The Raising of Lazarus,” he needed real images. Being a fan of his work, he ordered that a recently killed man, who had been dug out of his grave, be brought into the workshop.

Two hired sitters flatly refused to pose with the corpse, which had begun to decompose. Without thinking twice, Caravaggio pulled out a dagger and forced them to submit to his own will.

Paintings by Caravaggio

Below are the most famous paintings by Caravaggio. Pay attention to their amazing realism, stunning play of light and shadow, as well as accuracy in conveying the slightest emotions. It seems that the heroes of the plots live their lives, and only froze for a moment.

Brief biography of Caravaggio

Caravaggio Michelangelo Merisi da (1573-1610), Italian artist.

Born on September 28, 1573 in the town of Caravaggio in Lombardy (Northern Italy). He received his artistic education in Milan. He moved to Rome around 1590. During the first years of his life here he made money by painting flowers and fruits in paintings by other artists. Then he began to independently create genre works and still lifes. The main thing in Caravaggio’s works is the characteristic types of people. The painter asserted the superiority of direct reproduction of the surrounding world, the simplicity and naturalness of the everyday (“Girl with a Lute”, 1595).

He often chose religious themes.

The amazing concreteness and materiality of forms, the bold interpretation of biblical characters, which the artist endowed with similarities with the common people - all this brought him scandalous fame. Caravaggio often interpreted religious subjects as genre scenes (“The Calling of Matthew,” 1597-1601; “The Conversion of Paul,” 1601; “The Unbelief of Thomas,” 1603). The saints and great martyrs in his paintings are strong, full-blooded people. Caravaggio knew the life of the people very well and made them the hero of his works.

From painting to painting, the drama of perception intensifies, a greater inclination toward monumentality appears, and the tragic power of the images increases (“Entombment,” 1604; “Assumption of Mary,” 1605-1606, etc.).

Caravaggio's harsh realism was not understood by his contemporaries and provoked attacks from the clergy and officials. But the artist kept his whole life loyalty their beliefs, internal independence, perseverance in achieving goals. A man of violent temperament, he aggravated his situation with his temper. After the time playing ball, he killed his opponent, Caravaggio fled from Rome.

The last years of his life were spent in wanderings. He died on July 8, 1610 in Port Ercole (Grand Duchy of Tuscany, now in Central Italy).

Caravaggio was the largest representative of the realistic movement in Italian art of the 17th century, who had a huge impact on the development of all realistic painting in Europe

Michelangelo da Caravaggio

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"Summary"

Biography Gallery

“Funeral light” penetrating into a dark room after Christ and St. entered there. Peter, highlights the figures of people gathered around the table and at the same time emphasizes the miraculous nature of the appearance of Christ and St. Peter, his reality and at the same time unreality, snatching from the darkness only part of the profile of Jesus, the thin hand of his outstretched hand, the yellow cloak of St. Peter, while their figures dimly emerge from the shadows.

In the second picture of this cycle - “The Martyrdom of St. Matthew" - the desire for a more bravura and spectacular solution prevailed. The third picture is “St. Matthew and the Angel" (later kept in the Emperor Frederick Museum in Berlin and destroyed during the Second World War) - was rejected by customers who were shocked by the rude, common-spirited appearance of the apostle. In the altar paintings “The Martyrdom of St. Peter" and "The Conversion of Saul" (1600-1601, Santa Maria del Popolo, Cappella Cerasi, Rome) Caravaggio finds a balance between dramatic pathos and provocative naturalistic details. He even more organically combines the emphatically plebeian appearance of the characters and the depth of dramatic pathos in the mournful and solemn altar paintings “Entombment” (1602-1604, Vatican Pinacoteca) and “Assumption of Mary” (1605-1606, Louvre), which aroused the admiration of young artists, including Rubens (at his insistence, The Assumption of Mary, rejected by the customers, was purchased by the Duke of Mantua).

Studied with Simone Peterzano in Milan. In 1592-1594. moved to Rome, where he acquired the patronage of Cardinal del Monte. In May 1606, after a quarrel during a ball game and the murder of a participant in the quarrel in a duel, he was forced to flee from Rome to Naples, from where in 1607 he moved to the island of Malta. Here, having come into conflict with a powerful nobleman, he was thrown into prison and fled to Sicily. In 1608-1609, pursued by hired killers sent by the same nobleman, he wandered through the cities of Sicily and southern Italy; in 1610, counting on the help of Roman patrons and the forgiveness of the pope, he went to Rome. On the way, he was mistakenly arrested by Spanish customs officers, then continued on his way and died of fever at the age of 38 in the town of Porto d'Ercole.

Caravaggio Michelangelo Merisi da (1573-1610), Italian artist.

Born on September 28, 1573 in the town of Caravaggio in Lombardy (Northern Italy). I received my art degree in Milan. He moved to Rome around 1590. During the first years of his life here he made money by painting flowers and fruits in paintings by other artists. Then he began to independently create genre works and still lifes.

The main thing in Caravaggio’s works is the characteristic types of people. The painter asserted the superiority of direct reproduction of the surrounding world, the simplicity and naturalness of the everyday (“Girl with a Lute”, 1595). He often chose religious themes.

The amazing concreteness and materiality of forms, the bold interpretation of biblical characters, which the artist endowed with similarities with the common people - all this brought him scandalous fame. Caravaggio often interpreted religious subjects as genre scenes (“The Calling of Matthew,” 1597-1601; “The Conversion of Paul,” 1601; “The Unbelief of Thomas,” 1603). The saints and great martyrs in his paintings are strong, full-blooded people. Caravaggio knew the life of the people very well and made them the hero of his works.

From painting to painting, the drama of perception intensifies, a greater inclination toward monumentality appears, and the tragic power of the images increases (“Entombment,” 1604; “Assumption of Mary,” 1605-1606, etc.).

Caravaggio's harsh realism was not understood by his contemporaries and provoked attacks from the clergy and officials. But the artist remained faithful to his convictions, internal independence, and perseverance in achieving his goals all his life. A man of violent temperament, he aggravated his situation with his temper. After he killed his opponent during a ball game, Caravaggio fled Rome.

The last years of his life were spent in wanderings. He died on July 8, 1610 in Port Ercole (Grand Duchy of Tuscany, now in Central Italy).

Caravaggio was the largest representative of the realistic movement in Italian art of the 17th century, who had a huge impact on the development of all realistic painting in Europe

Michelangelo Merisi da Caravaggio is a famous Italian artist, author of religious paintings. Mostly he painted young men. The author's works are exhibited in the best galleries in the world - the Uffizi, the Hermitage, the Metropolitan Museum of Art, the Louvre, the Prado.

Childhood and youth

In one of the corners of Italy called Lombardy in 1571, the future artist Michelangelo Merisi da Caravaggio was born. Researchers have still not been able to determine the exact place and date of birth, and documentary evidence has not been preserved. Perhaps the creator was born in Milan or not far from it - in Caravaggio.

Michelangelo became the eldest son in the builder's family. The artist had three brothers and a younger sister. Caravaggio did not live poorly, since his father had a good salary and a construction education.

Five years after Caravaggio's birth, a plague epidemic began in Milan. It was possible to avoid infection only by moving to another city. But it did not help. A year later, the head of the family dies after a long illness. This period became difficult for Caravaggio.

There are many blank spots in the artist’s biography. Information about the 8 years of Michelangelo’s life after the death of his father has sunk into oblivion. It is known that in 1584 the young man went to study with the Milanese Simone Peterzano. After completing the course, Caravaggio was supposed to be given the title of artist, but no official confirmation of this fact has survived.

In 1592, Caravaggio faced a new challenge - the loss of his mother. The inheritance was divided equally among the children. Thanks to this money, Michelangelo was able to travel to Rome. The artist was known as a man with a difficult character, he constantly got into fights and ended up in prison.

Painting

The first years of life in Rome were not easy for Caravaggio. The young artist could hardly earn enough for food and housing, but luck turned his way. The then fashionable painter Cesari d'Arpino accepted Michelangelo as an assistant in his personal studio. The as yet unknown creator created still lifes on d’Arpino’s paintings. While working in the workshop, the author creates the works “Boy with a Basket of Fruits” and “Little Sick Bacchus.”

Soon, Cardinal Francesco Maria del Monte became Caravaggio's patron. The artist gained access to the creative society of Rome. In gratitude, Michelangelo presented the cardinal with his own painting “Fruit Basket”, and then several more works - “The Lute Player” and “Bacchus”.

During this period, Caravaggio produced several works that were included in the world heritage list. These are “Fortune Teller”, “Cupid the Winner”, “Narcissus”. New directions appear to the artist’s gaze - “pure” still life and “adventurism” in painting. Michelangelo's followers often used them in their works.

Caravaggio often resorted to religious themes. Among the early works one can highlight “Saint Martha Conversing with Mary Magdalene”, “Saint Catherine of Alexandria”, “Saint Mary Magdalene”, “The Ecstasy of Saint Francis”, “Judith and Holofernes”, “Rest on the Flight into Egypt”, “The Sacrifice of Abraham” .

At the end of the 16th century, Caravaggio painted two cycles of paintings telling about the life of the apostles. Some works were given to the Church of San Luigi dei Francesi, located in Rome. These paintings are dedicated to the Apostle Matthew. Two works have survived to this day - “The Martyrdom of the Apostle Matthew” and “The Calling of the Apostle Matthew”.

Two more chapels in the church of Santa Maria del Popolo in Rome are also decorated with works by Caravaggio. The Crucifixion of the Apostle Peter and the Conversion of Saul were located here. Cooperation with religious houses continued for quite a long time. Already in the 17th century, the paintings “Entombment”, “Madonna di Loreto” and “Assumption of Mary” appeared. The works were located in the churches of Sant'Agostino and Santa Maria in Valicella.

For the last few years of his life, Michelangelo Caravaggio wandered, trying to avoid punishment. Creatively, this period was rich in masterpieces. At this time, Caravaggio produced altar paintings “Madonna of the Rosary”, “Seven Works of Mercy”, “The Flagellation of Christ”. Their artist painted for Naples.

While in Malta, Caravaggio created Saint Jerome and The Beheading of John the Baptist. In Sicily, the maestro’s brush produced “The Burial of St. Lucia,” “The Raising of Lazarus,” and “The Adoration of the Shepherds.” At the end of his life, Michelangelo painted the painting “David with the Head of Goliath.” Presumably the work is a self-portrait.

One of the artist’s early works, “Boy Bitten by a Lizard,” is currently on display at the London National Gallery. The author painted the picture in two versions. Art historians are still arguing about who is depicted on the canvas. There are two versions: Caravaggio’s beloved or the maestro himself.

The Doria Pamphilj gallery houses another early work of the artist – “Penitent Marina Magdalene”. This is a rare painting of a young girl. Caravaggio paid special attention to the details: there are jewelry on the floor, a jug with a drink, and patterns on the dress.

In the Uffizi you can look at the interesting work of Michelangelo. The painting “Medusa” was created on canvas stretched on a wooden backing. This creation was created especially for Cardinal Francesco Del Monte, who wanted to give a gift to Ferdinand I, Grand Duke of Tuscany.

The painting “John the Baptist” is kept in the Toledo Cathedral. The canvas depicts a young man. There are a lot of rumors surrounding this work. Art historians believe that the authorship may belong to one of Caravaggio’s followers. Others claim that the painting was painted by Michelangelo specifically for the rector of the Hospital of Consolation.

The National Gallery of Ireland houses the painting “The Kiss of Judas.” The work is based on Caravaggio's ideas about the last days of life. There is a scandalous story associated with this painting. It turned out that a copy of the painting was presented in Odessa, which was subsequently stolen. Meanwhile, the original remains in Ireland to this day.

In the Borghese Gallery, located in Rome, you can get acquainted with another work by Michelangelo Caravaggio - “Madonna and Child and Saint Anne”. The canvas shows two women and a baby. Photos of many of Caravaggio’s paintings are placed in special albums dedicated to world art.

Personal life

Michelangelo Caravaggio was unmarried. At the same time, the man preferred to draw naked young men rather than women. This led to the fact that many began to classify the artist as representatives of gay people. And in the 20th century, Caravaggio was even called a gay icon. No official evidence of this fact has yet been found.

In 1986, the film “Caravaggio” was released, in which they talked about Michelangelo’s unconventional sexual orientation. The artist's beloved was played by a British actor. This is his first role of this nature.

Death

In Italy, Michelangelo Caravaggio is known for his work, which caused a lot of controversy and scandals in society. Unfortunately, he caused indignation not only with his paintings, but also with his behavior. The offender regularly broke the law and was on the verge of imprisonment. Caravaggio did not have a permit to carry bladed weapons, but this did not stop the artist.

Michelangelo threw a tray at a waiter and broke glass in someone else's house. The guards got tired of this, so the artist was briefly imprisoned. And in 1606, a man killed a man. The tragedy happened during a ball game. To avoid being put behind bars, Caravaggio escaped. The author of world masterpieces spent the last 4 years of his life in exile.

Michelangelo hoped for a pardon, so he hid near Rome, but later left for Naples. Malta was on my travel list. On the island, the artist was knighted for his services to the Order of Malta. But again he showed an unrestrained character and entered into a fight. Moreover, Caravaggio’s opponent was a high-ranking adviser to the order. Soon the artist managed to escape from prison to Sicily.

The danger from the Italian authorities has passed, but a new one has appeared - representatives of the order. In 1609, Michelangelo managed to escape from them, but suffered greatly in the process. The pursuers disfigured the artist's face. Later, Caravaggio was again in prison, but by mistake. Death overtook the creator on July 18, 1610. Michelangelo died of malaria. The great artist was 39 years old.

Michelangelo Caravaggio was buried in a group grave. The man's remains were later found. The lead content in the bones turned out to be several times higher. Note that in those days this element was added to the paint. Perhaps it was not malaria that killed the artist, but his profession.

Works

• 1593 - “Young Man with a Basket of Fruits”
• 1595 - "Musicians"
• 1596 - "Boy Bitten by a Lizard"
• 1597 - “Penitent Magdalene”
• 1597 - "Medusa"
• 1598 - “Judith and Holofernes”
• 1599 - "Narcissus"
• 1600 - "Martyrdom of St. Matthew"
• 1601 - “The Crucifixion of St. Peter”
• 1602 - “Cupid the Winner”
• 1603 - “Burial of Christ”
• 1604 - “John the Baptist”
• 1605 - “Portrait of Pope Paul V”
• 1606 - “Mary Magdalene in ecstasy”
• 1607 - "Seven Acts of Mercy"
• 1608 - “Beheading of John the Baptist”
• 1609 - “The Raising of Lazarus”
• 1610 - “David with the head of Goliath”

Michelangelo Merisi da Caravaggio (09.29.1571 - 07.18.1610) - a great Italian artist. Considered one of the greatest artists of the 17th century. Through the contrast of light and shadow, he achieved vivid emotional tension, an explosion of feelings, which was later called Caravaggism. The artist worked in religious, mythological and genre genres.

Caravaggio's fate was truly difficult. He studied at an art school in Milan. In 1606, after a terrible quarrel and subsequent duel, he killed his opponent and was forced to flee to Naples. After this, the artist moved even further - to the island of Malta. But here, too, adventures and failures awaited him.

In Malta, Caravaggio quarreled with a powerful nobleman and fled from prison to Sicily. The nobleman, who could not forgive the insult, sent hired killers for the artist. Caravaggio hid from them for a long time in different cities of Sicily and Italy. He went to Rome for patronage and forgiveness, but never got there and died of fever in the town of Porto d'Ercole. He never had time to find out that the Pope had forgiven all his crimes and pardoned him.

Probably, such a dramatic life contributed a lot to his pronounced, expressive painting. True, even cruel paintings depicting murders and betrayals convey to us the artist’s restless state and frequent experiences.

He opposed the established laws of art schools, and was a true innovator of his time. The characters in his paintings, flooded with light and clear, deep shadows, amaze with their monumentality, plasticity and expressiveness. His characters are so natural that it seems that now they will leave the canvas and turn out to be real people.

Caravaggio's paintings had a huge influence on the culture and art of future generations of artists. His style was adopted by such famous artists as Jordaens, Zurbaran, and Rembrandt.

Caravaggio paintings

Shulera
Judith and Holofernes
David with Goliath's head John the Baptist Jellyfish
Musicians
Martyrdom of Saint Matthew
Unbelief of the Apostle Thomas

Rest on the way to Egypt
Saint Jerome writing
Kiss of Judas
The Calling of the Apostle Matthew Crucifixion of Saint Peter Saint Matthew and the angel
Dinner at Emmaus