Caravaggio or Michelangelo Merisi- The father of Modern painting
Caravaggio was an Italian painter who was very controversial and influential. He has given us some of the most incredible works of art like the 'Calling of Saint Matthew,' 'Judith beheading Holofernes,' 'Supper at Emmaus', Narcissus', and 'Young sick Bacchus.'
His incredible masterpieces like the 'Death of the Virgin' and 'David with the head of goliath' has inspired a generation of artist to bring a new ray of hope in the world of art. In addition, his work was famous for his dramatic illumination technique, which used shadow to illuminate the lighter areas more. His work bought modern painting into the limelight and influenced many would-be painters like Diego Velazquez to Rembrandt. Check Oil Paintings of caravaggio at our Art Shop
Life of Caravaggio- Skillful yet sorrowful
Michelangelo Merisi Da Caravaggio Was born in 1571 in Italy. Unfortunately, when he was born, the battle of Lepanto had just counted its last days. It was a bloody conflict in which Turkish invaders were driven out of Christendom. So the world in which he took his first breath was very violent and horrifying. As a child, he had a very sorrowful family life. He lost his whole family to the bubonic plague and was an orphan at the age of 11. Following this dejected family life, he started to apprentice with the painter in Milan.his unique method of painting, the tenebrism technique, made him famous and in demand.
He was bound to transgress
In his biography, "Caravaggio: A Life Sacred and Profane," the writer Andrew Graham Dixon Revealed that he was having a difficult time dealing with the traumatic loss of his family. So he almost seemed bound to transgress. He couldn't handle the attention he was given by the authority, welcomed by the people and by the Knights of Malta; he always landed in some fatal flaw. Again Caravaggio Shifted to Milan and began apprenticing with the painter Simone Peterzano. Later in 1588, the poor Italian painter moved to Rome to feed his empty stomach and assisting other painters who were list talented than him. His acute poverty made him switch jobs. Also, he started selling off his own paintings through a dealer. This bought some attention to cardinal Francisco Del Monte. After many years of struggle, he got his own house, a decent room, a board, and was under pension. The unbelievable part of Caravaggio Skills was his incredible speed. It took him just two weeks to start and complete a painting that would make people drop their jaws. As soon as he came under the influence of DelMonte, he had already painted 40 paintings to his name. The stream included 'Boy with a Basket of fruit,' 'The young Bacchus,' and 'The music party.' Some of the unique features of his early work were chubby beautiful young boys dressed as Angels or lutenists or his favorite, St John the Baptist. Mostly these young boys in the paintings are naked or loosely clothed.
Some of his famous work
His three famous works, during the time he was awarded the commission for the decoration of the Counterelli Chapel in the Church of San Luigi dei Francesi in Rome, where he painted, 'Saint Matthew and the Angel,' 'the calling of Saint Matthew,' 'the martyrdom of Saint Matthew.'
His Last Days went in distress
In 1606 he landed up in quite troublesome situations when he killed a well-known Roman pimp named Ranuccio Tomassoni. The reasons till now are unsolved and mysterious. The insanity of this Italian painter does not end here; he continued with his violence and attacked many people, for which the reasons, again, are still unknown. No matter how much he tried to escape, he was arrested and jailed for the assault. But to avoid punishment, he again went through many illegal activities. It was reported that after he resumed his journey and arrived at Port’Ercole, he had a natural death on July 18, 1610. His death has been shrouded suspiciously. Although his life ended in misery, still his skills have enlightened many future masters.