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Biography of Michelangelo Merisi da Caravaggio

Michelangelo Merisi da Caravaggio is a very famous Italian painter of the Renaissance period. He is also known as the father of the modern painting. His paintings give a realistic view of a human being, portraying both physical and emotional states of a person.

Therefore, this research paper aims to provide some detailed information about the artist by using different resources from the literature.

Life Background

Milan is the city where Caravaggio was born in 1571. His father’s name is Fermo Merixio, who was a household administrator and architect by profession (Hibbard, p.12). However, in 1576 Caravaggio left Milan along with his family. They were escaping from a plaque which covered Milan city. 1n 1577, Caravaggio’s father and grandfather died. After that, in 1584 the artist also lost his mother. Thus, at the age of 11, the artist was orphaned. In the same year of his mother's death, Caravaggio started four years ‘apprenticeship with a painter in Milan. However, according to the literature he stayed in Milan even after his apprenticeship contract.

Living penniless was difficult for Caravaggio, so he decided to move to Rome. After a long search in Rome, he finally found a work as an assistant to the other painters, but he was not consistent with his job. He left it soon and kept on switching jobs until 1595. However, around 1595 Caravaggio decided to sell his canvases with the help of a dealer. It finally paid him off, and he was able to catch the attention of Cardinal Francesco del Monte. Del Monte was so much impressed by the work of Caravaggio that he hired him as a painter. At the same time, he provided him a room in his house and took the responsibility of all his expenditures. Caravaggio was a prolific painter and used to work quickly so it would not take time to give an impression.

As far as Artist’s married life is concerned, historians have noted that Caravaggio did not marry in his lifetime and he had no children either. However, some of the researchers analyzed that his paintings do not depict a single portrait of nude female and it gives a sign. On the other side, the paintings from Del Monte times show that Artist was much inspired to paint the young boys. It somehow suggests the existence of sensual feelings for the males in Caravaggio. In addition, Cecco was Caravaggio's assistant, and he is seen in a number of paintings of the artist. Therefore, few historians guess, this young boy as the lover of Caravaggio.

Other than his brilliant work, Caravaggio life was full of controversies. His arrogant behavior and the impatient attitude created so many troubles for Caravaggio in his adult life. However, in 1610, Caravaggio died in Rome.

Career

It is already discussed that the painter had started his career in visual arts when he was eleven years‘old. He was trained as a painter in Milan before traveling to Rome. However, he was able to develop a name as a painter. His work, later on, inspired the Baroque painting. Until he met del Monte, he had painted 40 paintings. The famous works from that period are the paintings of a “Boy with a Basket of Fruit” and “The Music Party” (Ebert-Schifferer, pp.150). In 1597, the artist got an award for his creativity on the “Contarelli Chapel” in San Luigi dei Francesi Church in Rome. All of the three remarkable paintings gave the artist much publicity. His new version of “St. Matthew and the Angel” was highly appreciated (Neuman, p.18). After this exposure, the artist started using his own interpretations to paint the biblical scenes with the people he encountered in his real life such as courtesans, beggars, and robbers.

Although the commission from the Contarelli Chapel provided some financial assistance to Caravaggio, it also gave the artist an exposure. The paintings from the next years were, “Death of Virgin” and “the deposition of Christ."

Important Events of Life

However, along with the successes in Caravaggio’s life, his personal life also changed. He grew into an aggressive and violent man, who loved drinking and gambling. In 1603, the artist was imprisoned over a frequent fight with another painter. Likewise, with the passage of time, the Artist temper became hotter. Some of the pieces of evidence include throwing a plate at a waiter in 1604 and hitting the Roman guards with rocks in 1605. Similarly, his violent behavior took a dangerous turn in 1606 and Caravaggio killed a famous Roman Pimp called Ranuccio Tomassoni. However, historians have given various reasons for this murder attempt. Some of them suggested that the fight started over an unpaid debt whereas others disagree that it was resulted due to an argument over a game.

After the murder, the Artist escaped from Rome, and during that period he temporarily stayed at Naples, Sicily, and Malta. By that time, Caravaggio was quite famous so he couldn't escape from defaming. At the same time, he was given an award of Knight of justice in Malta, which was taken away later on when the court learned about his crime (Christiansen, p.92). During the refuge period, the artist didn't give up on his work and created some beautiful pieces. Among which "Resurrection" is shockingly famous painting. This painting closely depicts Caravaggio's own life. By the time, the artist was so much broken down in his life, and he had started fearing for his life. It was not the end of his aggression. Again in 1608, Caravaggio attacked one of the Knights from the order of Malta. As a result, he was arrested and put in jail. However, he managed to run away, but it had an impact on the painter's physical and mental health. In 1610, Caravaggio decided to go back to Rome, where he died just after few months.

Influences

Caravaggio is one of the notable names among the Italian painters, and he is known as the pioneer of the Baroque style of painting. He was the fortunate artist in the 16th century who eventually participated in the renovation of the old churches. Consequently, the artist developed a style of realism which directly appealed to the emotions ("Caravaggio," np). The closer view of Caravaggio's painting shows that he was inspired by the great work of Michelangelo. At the same time, there are some reflections of da Vinci in Caravaggio’s art.

Despite all his dramatic life experience and violent nature, Caravaggio has a profound influence on modern art. He is also recognized as a founding member of the contemporary arts. However, Caravaggio's direct and indirect impact can be seen in the paintings of Rubens, Bernini, and Rembrandt. The artists whose works are inspired by Caravaggio are known as "Caravaggisti” ("The Art and Influence of Caravaggio," np).

Conclusion

In conclusion, Caravaggio was a fantastic artist with extraordinary skills. Despite this, his scandalous life attracted to search deep into the life events. As much as his work brought fame, his temper brought controversies for him. Keeping his personal life aside, his work is also adorable. His work will remain part of the western history as his styles brought evolution in the history of visual arts. This research paper helps a lot to know about the genius work of the artist along with his personal life information.

Works Cited

"Caravaggio". Artble, 2019, https://www.artble.com/artists/caravaggio. Accessed 24 Jan 2019.

"The Art and Influence of Caravaggio." Eric Edwards Collected Works, 2019, https://ericwedwards.wordpress.com/2013/08/02/the-art-of-caravaggio/.

Christiansen, Keith. A Caravaggio Rediscovered, the Lute Player. MetropolitanMuseum of art, 1990.

Ebert-Schifferer, Sybille. Caravaggio: The Artist and His Work. Getty Publications, 2012.

Hibbard, Howard. Caravaggio. Routledge, 2018.

Neuman, Robert. Baroque and rococo Art and Architecture. Pearson, 2013.