Caravaggio and His Life - 1093 Words

Depending on when and where you lived, there are many words that could describe Caravaggio. Most people who lived around same the time as Caravaggio would describe him as eccentric, murderous, quarrelsome, daring, defiant, and forgettable. As present-day people, we only have the artworks of Caravaggio to portray him as beautiful, insightful, religious, descriptive, innovate, traditional, and probably an â€Å"Italian Badass†. However, we must look at his paintings, his masterpieces, in order to truly understand who Caravaggio really was. Notorious for his reckless private life and his provocative nature as a painter, Caravaggio wanted to make a statement in the arts. His paintings today are still alive with the high drama of his days and the†¦show more content†¦Although this is a daring feature in his art, the way he depicts God and religion can give us insight on his beliefs. Caravaggio was born and raised as a devout Christian, why then, does he not add intricate mysticism to his paintings? The only religious miracles I’ve seen from his work is in The Inspiration of St. Matthew (picture on cover) where there is an angel which looks strikingly close to a human swooping down in the picture and talking to a frightened St. Matthew who has a paper-thin halo around his head. Other than that painting, Caravaggio does not use spirituality in his paintings. In my opinion, he favored the Christian Humanist belief because he focused more on Christ’s presence on earth. Christian Humanism is â€Å"the belief that human freedom and individualism are intrinsic (natural) parts of, or are at least compatible with, Christian doctrine and practice.†( http://christianhumanism.bravehost.com/ ) This definition sounds like Caravaggio wrote it himself. Just like humanists, Caravaggio was a free spirit and believed in the power of self-rule. This sense of i ndividualism most likely inspired most of Caravaggio’s paintings. Caravaggio was his own person, whether it was the traditional painting of a fruit basket or the grotesque portrait of a beheaded Goliath, he painted what he wanted to. He didn’tShow MoreRelatedMichelangelo Merisi (Caravaggio) Essay1707 Words   |  7 Pagescalled Caravaggio, had the most interesting and turbulent life. Caravaggio, was born in Milan in during the late summer or early autumn of 1571. His parents, Fermo Merisi, and Lucia Aratori, had been married on January 14 of that same year. He was the first of their four children. For several generations the Mersi family had lived in the small town of Caravaggio. Caravaggio probably adapted the town name as his own when he left for Rome(Friedlaender 34 – 38). His father workedRead MoreMartha and Mary Magdalene by Caravaggio884 Words   |  4 Pagesvery different meaning today. Michelangelo Merisi da Caravaggio better known as simply Caravaggio was an Italian Baroque master painter born in Italy around 1571. After he apprenticed with a painter in Milan, he moved to Rome, where he lived for most of his life. His work influenced painters around Europe. He’s most known for his gruesome subjects and use of Tenebrism, which was a technique that used heavy shadow to emphasize light areas. His life was filled with great controversy. He was known forRead MoreThe Counter Reformation : A Response From The Catholic Church1288 Words   |  6 Pagessupport; through art so to impress followers and bring in supporters from groups whom didn’t know how to read. Caravaggio was one of many artists in this time that painted and/or sculpted for the church, so let’s explore the effect the Counter Reformation had on his art work (Counter Reformation). The first thing I’d like to look at in Caravaggio’s paintings is his choices of color and lighting. In his works he always used a lot of red for example in Salome with the Head of John the Baptist and in The RaisingRead MoreAnalysis Of Lucca Madonna1176 Words   |  5 PagesJesus. Jan Van Eycks use of space reveals how disproportionate the throne is to the room in which it is located. Disproportion is also seen in how Jesus is drawn, his body and head are not proportionate. The position of the rug, throne and the emphasis of natural lighting guides the eye towards Mary and Jesus. Lucca Madonna is a still life painting, that is a great example of Van Eycks use of iconography. Mary sitting on a throne most likely depicts the strength of the church considering, she wasRead More Caravaggio, Death of St. Matthew Essay1515 Words   |  7 PagesCaravaggio, Death of St. Matthew Michelangelo de Caravaggio is one of the most renowned and popular artists of the Baroque Period. In fact, many paintings from this period, as well as after have been described as â€Å"Caravagesque.† Caravaggio’s works are some of the most popular in Italy, as well as around the world, and have been put into there own stylistic group. In his painting, the Martyrdom of St. Matthew, there contains certain characteristics that make the painting easily recognizableRead MoreArt Appreciation Unit 4 Ip Essay1084 Words   |  5 Pagespostmodern era. 1). Michelangelo Merisi da Caravaggio; 2) Rembrandt van Rijn; and 3) Peter Paul Rubens, these three artists were known for their religious theme in their art work. The naturalism that was visibly demonstrated in each of the artist work with high contrast of lighting that noticeably appeared in these paintings. Each artist was well known and respected for their work. The three artists Works of Art that I have chosen are: Michelangelo Caravaggio: The Calling of St. Matthew c. 1599-1602Read MoreBaroque Art : The Baroque Period1648 Words   |  7 Pagesin the 17th century knew that the Baroque style of art could be used to endorse the church and give an impression of power and authority. Initial Baroque artists comprised of Caravaggio, a painter who influenced the Baroque style with his use of chiaroscuro and intense realism, and Annibale Carracci, who was well known for his frescoes. The Renaissance had seen an outbreak in art, music, culture and architecture. Italy had not been predisposed much by the protestant reformation and the church was stillRead More Caravaggio Essay1069 Words   |  5 PagesCaravaggio Michelangelo Mersi was born at Caravaggio in Lombardy on September 28, 1573. His childhood was lived in a quite atmosphere in the small town located between Brescia and Milan. Caravaggio became orphaned at a very young age, and coincidentally was sent to Milan to study painting. This is where his career started. During the Eighteen years between his arrival in Rome and his death, Caravaggio enjoyed the pleasures of being a young artist. He enjoyed the triumph of a success, theRead MoreGenre Analysis: The Baroque and Rococo Periods Essay1556 Words   |  7 PagesThe following is a comparative analysis of Caravaggio’s The Musicians from the Italian Baroque period, and Watteau’s Mezzetin from the Rococo Period. Although both paintings depict a scene or event from everyday life, or a genre scene, the latter was painted more recently during the modern era and it differs immensely. The major differences become evident in the style of the painters as well as their person al representations of the subject matter. The works illustrate the evolvement of a certainRead MoreA Personal Statement about the Things I Have Learned in This Course1366 Words   |  6 PagesThe issues, ideas, concepts, and facts I learned in this course have stimulated my imagination and ability to think critically. I have been intrigued most by learning about art through history, from Caravaggio to Munch. The topic that confused and bothered me the most was related to the American Civil War, which illuminates the dark side of the countrys history. Because of my future ambitions, I believe that our understanding of why Hollywood became the center of the movie industry over other cities