Caravaggio, Michelangelo Merisi da
Caravaggio (1573-1610). Probably the most
revolutionary artist of his time, the Italian painter Caravaggio abandoned the
rules that had guided a century of artists before him. They had idealized the
human and religious experience.
He
was born Michelangelo Merisi on Sept. 28, 1573, in Caravaggio, Italy. As an
adult he would become known by the name of his birthplace. Orphaned at age 11,
he was apprenticed to the painter Simone Peterzano of Milan for four years. At
some time between 1588 and 1592, Caravaggio went to Rome and worked as an
assistant to painters of lesser skill. About 1595 he began to sell his
paintings through a dealer. The dealer brought Caravaggio to the attention of
Cardinal Francesco del Monte.
Through
the cardinal, Caravaggio was commissioned, at age 24, to paint for the church
of San Luigi dei Francesi. In its Contarelli Chapel Caravaggio's realistic
naturalism first fully appeared in three scenes he created of the life of St.
Matthew. The works caused public outcry, however, because of their realistic
and dramatic nature.
Despite
violent criticism, his reputation increased and Caravaggio began to be envied.
He had many encounters with the law during his stay in Rome. He was imprisoned
for several assaults and for killing an opponent after a disputed score in a
game of court tennis. Caravaggio fled the city and kept moving between hiding
places. He reached Naples, probably early in 1607, and painted there for a
time, awaiting a pardon by the pope. Here there was a in his painting style.
The dark and urgent nature of his paintings at this time must have reflected
Caravaggio's desperate state of mind.
Early
in 1608 Caravaggio went to Malta and was received as a celebrated artist.
Fearful of pursuit, he continued to flee for two more years, but his paintings
of this time were among the greatest of his career. After receiving a pardon
from the pope, he was wrongfully arrested and imprisoned for two days. A boat
that was to take him to Rome left without him, taking his belongings.
Misfortune, exhaustion, and illness overtook him as he helplessly watched the
boat depart. He collapsed on the beach and died a few days later on July 18,
1610.
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