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Caravaggio

© Nick Burton

Caravaggio

The artist known as Caravaggio was born Michelangelo Merisi on September 29, 1571, most likely in Caravaggio , Italy , a town in the province of Bergamo(although some biographies suggest he might have been born in Milan). He spent the early part of his life in Milan, and at the age of five moved with his family to Carvaggio to escape the terrible plague of 1576. His father and grandfather both died of the plague , and there are documents that indicate the artist's mother, Lucia Aratori , had a terrible time maintaining the family and the family's estate.

In 1584, when Michelangelo was just 13, he returned to Caravaggio to study painting. His teacher was Simone Peterzano , a Bergamesque artist trained in Venice. Peterzano's work adhered to the austere Milanese style, and Michelangelo 's first works reflected Peterzano's influence. After an apprenticeship lasting for many years, Michelangelo left for Rome in 1596, where the artistic environment was the last years of Mannerist painting. HE was introduced to Cavaliere d' Arpino , Rome's leading painter of the time, and under his guidance, Michelangelo learned the arts of metaphor and allegory. His first works painted for sale in Rome included "Boy Bitten by a Lizard" .

Many of his works from the 1590's were pictures he painted from life and depicted everyday people in modest surroundings. Far from the classical models of the day , he painted prostitutes , gypsies and various other street people. But towards the end of the century, he began painting religious subjects , but treating them almost as the genre paintings set in natural surroundings. His work also began to experiment now with the uses of light and contrast. The first religious work attributed to him is "The Ecstasy of Saint Francis" , and a remarkable , vivid painting of Judith beheading Holofernes was discover in 1951 at an exhibition in Milan that is most likely from the same time.

Caravaggio's first important commission came through Cardinal del Monte, a member of the cathedral workshop of St. Peter's. The administrators of San Luigi del Francesi had petitioned the pop and the workshop for work on the decoration of their church. Caravaggio was assigned to the work , and he delivered the two required paintings of the martyrdom of St. Matthew in 1600.

The works at San Luigi del Francesi brought Caravaggio fame as well as new clients. His works had changed the way churches were decorated: instead of the traditional frescoes, larger canvases were used, and the figures shown as living characters. But although his work was now commanding attention , his private life was taking a turn for the worse.He was a violent man who was constantly involved in brawls with friends and colleagues. In August 1603, he fought with his critic and rival Giovanni Baglione and was forced to stand trial as a result.He was put in jail , but released at the insistence of the French Ambassador.

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