Download
1 / 20
760 likes | 2.02k Views
Caravaggio. Who was Caravaggio?. Born in 1571 in Milan, Italy When he was just 6 years old all the men in his family died because of the plague When he was 13 he lost his mother as well. His Adventurous Life.
E N D
Who was Caravaggio? • Born in 1571 in Milan, Italy • When he was just 6 years old all the men in his family died because of the plague • When he was 13 he lost his mother as well
His Adventurous Life • Caravaggio was famous for his adventurous, wild, ill-tempered personality and life style • The year his mother died he started to apprentice under the artist Simone Peterzano • When he was in his early 20’s Caravaggio moved to Rome Italy to escape “certain quarrels” and trouble with the law, he had hurt a police officer
His Adventurous Life • When he got to Rome he had nothing. He was broke, homeless, and hungry. • He eventually found work in a workshop. • While living in Rome Caravaggio grew in fame as an artist, however, he also became notorious for brawling. He had several pages of police records on him
His Adventurous Life • So far Caravaggio had gotten away with his antics because he was supported by powerful, wealthy people in town, the people he painted for • However, in 1606 Caravaggio’s chaotic life style caught up to him when he killed a man (possibly on accident) over a tennis game
His Adventurous Life • In serious trouble he ran to Naples where he lived and worked for a few months before moving again to Malta • While in Malta he hoped to win over the affections of the officials and get a pardon for the murder he committed • At first this worked, but then he was arrested and imprisoned for fighting and injuring an official
His Adventurous Life • Some how he managed to escape from prison, climb down a cliff into the ocean, and swim some 3 miles before being picked up by a boat
His Adventurous Life • After getting out of prison he made his way to Sicily • But after only 9 months there he was being chased by enemies and fled back to Naples • While in Naples someone tried to kill him but ended up only seriously maiming his face
His Adventurous Life • At this point there was a death warrant out for Caravaggio, the officials wanted his head • In an attempt to get a pardon for all his illicit behavior Caravaggio sent paintings to several high ranking officials
His Adventurous Life • On his way back to Rome, supposedly to pick up the pardon, Caravaggio died. The year was 1610, he was just 38 years old • How he died is still a mystery. Most likely it was from a fever, however some people believe he was murdered by one of his many enemies, and some believed he had lead poisoning
So what’s the big deal? • Somehow, despite his life style, Caravaggio managed to make a great deal of paintings. • Caravaggio influenced a huge range of artists, he influenced the culture he was living in, and he changed the course of western art • It is said that “modern painting” begins with Caravaggio. His art started several movements after his death and influenced several very famous artists
His Art • It is said that Caravaggio changed the course of art history. But why? How? • One important influence Caravaggio had was his use of chiaroscuro. He made this shading technique famous. • Chiaroscuro is: Italian term that literally means “Light dark”. A style of artwork where contrast is emphasized.
His Art • His use of chiaroscuro created paintings that look very dramatic and intense.
His Art • Another important influence Caravaggio had was using common people, or peasants as his models for painting images of religious figures. • In the time this was unique but controversial because all religious figures were painted as looking inhuman, or grander than human.
