Michelangelo da Caravaggio (1571-1610)

## About

Michelangelo Merisi da Caravaggio, known as Caravaggio, was an Italian painter who lived from 1571 to 1610. He was one of the most revolutionary figures of European art, and his practice of painting directly from posed models violated the idealizing premise of Renaissance art. Caravaggio was trained in Milan and active in Rome, Naples, Malta, and Sicily. His early life was divided between his native town of Caravaggio and the populous city of Milan, where his father had a workshop. In the summer of 1576, Milan was struck by an outbreak of bubonic plague, and the artist, then about five years old, was sent to Caravaggio, where his mother's family lived. His deep sense of abandonment may well have their origins in those traumatic events of his early childhood. Caravaggio became famous for the intense and unsettling realism of his large-scale religious works. His two canvases, the Calling of Saint Matthew and the Martyrdom of Saint Matthew, were unveiled in 1600 and established his reputation. Caravaggio's art was particularly popular among foreign painters in Rome, and he may have been known by Velázquez. Cardinal Francesco Maria del Monte was Caravaggio's most important patron, providing support during his most troubled years, giving him refuge and shielding him from justice when he was a wanted man.

## Early Life and Education

Michelangelo Merisi da Caravaggio was born on September 29, 1571, in Milan or Caravaggio, Italy. He was the first child of Fermo Merisi and his second wife, Lucia Aratori. His family moved to Caravaggio when he was five years old, and he was named after the town. Caravaggio's father was a household administrator and architect and decorator to the Marchese of Caravaggio. After his father's death, Caravaggio was apprenticed to Simone Peterzano, a Milanese painter, for four years. He learned traditional techniques of Renaissance painting, such as drawing and mixing paints. Documentary evidence concerning the rest of Caravaggio’s childhood and formative years is scant.

## Career

Michelangelo Merisi da Caravaggio was a Northern Italian painter who was active from around 1592 until his death in 1610. He was trained in Milan and was active in Rome, Naples, Malta, and Sicily. Caravaggio is known for his intense and unsettling realism in his large-scale religious works, and is considered a leading Italian painter of the late 16th and early 17th centuries. His practice of painting directly from posed models violated the idealizing premise of Renaissance painting. Caravaggio's early life was divided between his native town of Caravaggio and the populous city of Milan, where his father had a workshop. He began a four-year-long apprenticeship with a local artist named Simone Peterzano when he was 13 years old. By 1595, Caravaggio was able to make a living from his own work.

## Relationships

It is known that Caravaggio had a troubled life and was rumoured to have had relationships with prostitutes or mistresses who served as models for his paintings. Additionally, Caravaggio had a close friendship with a fellow painter named Mario Minniti, who served as a model for many of his works. Minniti provided support to Caravaggio during his most troubled years, giving him refuge and shielding him from justice when he was a wanted man.

## Controversies

Michelangelo Merisi da Caravaggio (1571-1610) was a controversial figure in his time. His rebellious disposition sometimes caused controversy. Despite his success as an artist, Caravaggio was a wanted man at times. He was known for his intense and unsettling realism in his large-scale religious works. His paintings were considered shocking, and his life was full of drama. Caravaggio's early life was divided between his native town of Caravaggio and the populous city of Milan, where his father had a workshop. In the summer of 1576, Milan was struck by an outbreak of bubonic plague, which may have contributed to his deep sense of abandonment. Documentary evidence concerning the rest of Caravaggio’s childhood and formative years is scant.

## Filmography

There are films based on the life and works of Michelangelo da Caravaggio. One such film is “Caravaggio,” a 1986 British historical drama film directed by Derek Jarman. The film is a fictionalized retelling of the life of Caravaggio and stars Nigel Terry, Sean Bean, and Tilda Swinton. Another film is “L'Ombra di Caravaggio” (Caravaggio's Shadow), an Italian-language film directed by Michele Placido and starring Riccardo Scamarcio as Caravaggio. The film was released in Italy in November 2022. These films explore the life and works of Caravaggio, who was an Italian painter active in Rome for most of his artistic life.

## Litigation

In 1603, Michelangelo Merisi da Caravaggio was sued and jailed for libel for writing sarcastic and offensive verses about the painter and writer Giovanni Baglione. However, it is not clear if there were any other litigations involving Caravaggio during his lifetime. Caravaggio had a troubled life and was a wanted man at times, but most of his troubles were related to his violent behaviour and criminal activities. Despite his personal problems, Caravaggio's art was highly regarded during his lifetime and he had many patrons, including Cardinal Francesco Maria del Monte.