Caravaggio: a great artist and a scandalous rebel. Caravaggio - biography and paintings of the artist in the Baroque genre - Art Challenge

Italian painter, one of major representatives baroque Michelangelo Merisi da Caravaggio (Michelangelo Merisi da Caravaggio) was born on September 28, 1573 in the Italian village of Caravaggio. His father was the majordomo and architect of the Marquis Caravaggio. Until the early 1590s, Michelangelo da Caravaggio studied with the Milanese painter Simone Peterzano, leaving for Rome around 1593. At first he was in poverty, he worked for hire. Some time later, the fashionable painter Cesari d'Arpino took Caravaggio as an assistant to his workshop, where he painted still lifes on monumental paintings owner.

At this time, such paintings by Caravaggio as "Little Sick Bacchus" and "Boy with a Basket of Fruit" were painted.

By nature an artist who plunged him into complex and dangerous situations. He fought duels many times, for which he repeatedly ended up in prison. Often spent days in the company of players, swindlers, brawlers, adventurers. His name often appeared in police chronicles.

© Merisi da Caravaggio / public domainMerisi da Caravaggio's Lute Player, 1595. State Hermitage, Saint Petersburg

© Merisi da Caravaggio / public domain

In 1595, in the person of Cardinal Francesco Maria del Monte, Caravaggio found an influential patron who introduced him to artistic environment Rome. For Cardinal del Monte, the artist painted some of his best paintings - "Fruit Basket", "Bacchus" and "Lute Player". In the late 1590s, the artist created such works as "Concert", "Cupid the Winner", "Fortuneteller", "Narcissus". Caravaggio opened up new possibilities of painting, for the first time turning to the "pure" still life and "adventurous" genre, which received further development among his followers and was popular in European painting XVII century.

Among the early religious works of Caravaggio are the paintings "Saint Martha Conversing with Mary Magdalene", "Saint Catherine of Alexandria", "Saint Mary Magdalene", "The Ecstasy of St. Francis", "Rest on the Flight into Egypt", "Judith", "Sacrifice of Abraham" .

© Photo: public domain Caravaggio Judith Slaying Holofernes. c.1598-1599

At the turn of the XVI-XVII centuries, Caravaggio created two cycles of paintings on scenes from the life of the apostles. In the years 1597-1600, three paintings dedicated to the Apostle Matthew were painted for the Contarelli Chapel in the church of San Luigi dei Francesi in Rome. Of these, only two have survived - "The Calling of the Apostle Matthew" and "The Martyrdom of the Apostle Matthew" (1599-1600). For the Cerasi Chapel in the Church of Santa Maria del Popolo in Rome, Caravaggio performed two compositions - "The Conversion of Saul" and "The Crucifixion of the Apostle Peter."

© Photo: Michelangelo da CaravaggioJohn the Baptist painting by Michelangelo da Caravaggio

In 1602-1604, the artist painted "The Entombment" ("Descent from the Cross") for the church of Santa Maria in Valicella in Rome. In 1603-1606 he created the composition "Madonna di Loreto" for the church of Sant'Agostino. In 1606, the painting "Assumption of Mary" was painted.

In 1606, after a quarrel at a ball game and the murder of his rival Rannuccio Tommasoni, Caravaggio fled from Rome to Naples, from where he moved to the island of Malta in 1607, where he was accepted into the Order of Malta. However, after a quarrel with a high-ranking member of the order, he was imprisoned, from where he fled to Sicily, and then to southern Italy.

In 1609, Caravaggio again returned to Naples, where he awaited pardon and permission to return to Rome.

During the wandering period, the artist created a series outstanding works religious painting. In Naples, he painted large altarpieces The Seven Works of Mercy (Church of Pio Monte della Misaricordia), The Madonna of the Rosary, and The Flagellation of Christ. In Malta, for the temple of San Domenico Maggiore, he created the canvases "The Beheading of John the Baptist" and "Saint Jerome", in Sicily - "The Burial of St. Lucy" for the Church of St. Lucia, "The Resurrection of Lazarus" for the Genoese merchant Lazzari and "The Adoration of the Shepherds" for the church Santa Maria degli Angeli. TO latest works Caravaggio also includes the painting "David with the Head of Goliath", in which the head of Goliath presumably represents a self-portrait of the artist.

In 1610, having received a pardon from Cardinal Gonzaga, the artist loaded his belongings onto a ship, intending to return to Rome, but never reached his destination. On the shore, he was mistakenly arrested by the Spanish guards and detained for three days.

On July 18, 1610, Caravaggio died of an attack of malaria in the Italian town of Porto Ercole at the age of 37.

The work of Caravaggio had a significant impact not only on many Italian artists of the XVII century, but also on the leading Western European masters - Peter Paul Rubens, Diego Velasquez, Jose de Ribera, and also gave rise to a new direction in art - caravaggism.

The material was prepared on the basis of information from open sources

Michelangelo Caravaggio (1571-1610) - italian artist, who abandoned the manner of painting characteristic of his era and laid the foundation for realism. His works reflect the worldview of the author, his indefatigable character. Michelangelo Caravaggio, whose biography is full of difficult moments, left an impressive legacy that still inspires artists around the world.

Signs of the era

The artist was born in 1571 in Lombardy. The name of the village (Caravaggio), in which Michelangelo was born, became his nickname. Historians note that Italy had a lot of trials at the time when Caravaggio lived and worked. The country was ravaged by wars and internal contradictions exacerbated by the economic crisis. Some of the freedom of the Renaissance was replaced by an ecclesiastical reaction. All this could not but affect the art.

Mannerism and academicism

In the years when the Italian artist Michelangelo Caravaggio began to move along his creative path, painting began to be filled with mystical subjects that were far from reality. The mannerism supported by the church, which originated in the middle of the 16th century, was a subjective trend, not striving for harmony of the spiritual and physical components.

A little later, almost at the end of the century, there is academic painting. It is characterized by simplicity of composition and monumentality of forms, opposed to mannerism. Artists who preferred academicism turned to Antiquity with its idealized heroes and images, dismissing reality as not worthy of attention.

Michelangelo Caravaggio - innovative artist

The direction created by Caravaggio, named after his death "caravagism", originates in the pictorial traditions of Northern Italy. One of Michelangelo Merisi's teachers in Milan was Simone Peterzano. Probably, it was from him that the artist learned to use the contrast of light and shadow, which later became one of the main distinguishing features many of his paintings.

Michelangelo Caravaggio in his work continued the traditions of the realistic approach of the masters of Northern Italy. He did not become a follower of mannerism or academism, but laid the foundation for a new trend, often causing criticism from both other painters and the church. However, some religious figures patronized Caravaggio. Among them, it is worth noting Cardinal del Monte, who favored the artist from 1592 to 1594, when Michelangelo lived and worked in Rome.

Provincial

Michelangelo Caravaggio, whose biography, creativity and whole life are inextricably linked with provincial cities, even in canvases on religious themes depicted ordinary people. The heroes of his paintings are far from ancient ideals, they could be found on the streets of Italian villages. The artist created many genre paintings (for example, "The Fortuneteller", "Young Man with a Lute"), conveying life in a realistic manner common people. In his paintings, depicting various scenes from Holy Scripture, far from canonical details appeared, making church ministers and martyrs not idols, but simple and understandable people. Among these paintings can be called "Magdalene" and "Matthew the Apostle."

Characteristic features of the works of Michelangelo Caravaggio are realism, sometimes reaching extreme naturalism, laconic composition, the play of light and shadow, and the use of restrained colors.

"The Call of the Apostle Matthew"

The famous cycle of works for the church of San Luigi dei Francesi, depicting episodes from the life of St. Matthew, the artist created in last decade XVI century. The best among them is often called "The Calling of the Apostle Matthew." The composition acquires special expressiveness due to the contrast of light and shadow. All the main details: - the finger of Christ, the face of the apostle - are brightly lit. The shadow covers minor elements of the canvas. Light creates a special movement of the picture, directs the viewer's eye. The artist in this picture also found a place for realism and details typical of everyday situations. He depicted St. Matthew, the tax collector, counting money along with helpers. All the heroes of the picture, except for Christ and the Apostle Peter, are dressed in costumes modern for Caravaggio. The skill of the artist found expression in the depiction of the characters' faces.

Moving towards the goal no matter what

Stubborn, irrepressible and full of seething energy - this is how art historians Michelangelo Merisi describe. He persistently developed realism, despite the criticism and opposition of the church. The artist created his most significant works in 1600-1606. These include the paintings "Vision of Saul", "Martyrdom of the Apostle Peter", "Assumption" and others. These paintings caused disapproval from the church because of the deviation from the accepted manner of depiction, unnecessary, according to Catholic dignitaries, realism and materialism.

Glory and escape from Rome

“The Entombment” is one of the paintings by Michelangelo Caravaggio, whose photo invariably accompanies the description of the artist’s biography. The unusually strong emotional effect produced by the canvas was achieved by the master with the help of light and shade contrast. The work was created for the church of Santa Maria in Vallicella in the Eternal City. The dramatic plot of the position in the tomb of the body of the Savior is written by the artist in white, red and blue colors, whose tense confrontation multiplies the effect of the play of light and shadow. This canvas was recognized as a masterpiece not only among the admirers and followers of the master, but also by his enemies.

And it was at the very moment when Michelangelo Caravaggio achieved fame that fate prepared another test for the artist. In 1606 he had to flee Rome after a duel. A quarrel during a ball game had fatal consequences: Caravaggio killed the opponent and was forced to leave the city.

Last years

Hiding from justice, the artist continued to work, although his living conditions sometimes became unbearably difficult. In Naples, he wrote "Madonna with a rosary", "Seven works of mercy". last picture of these is a combination of several different plots. Despite the complex composition, the canvas does not fall apart into separate parts. The artist managed to arrange the plots into a single whole.

In Malta, having quarreled with a nobleman, Caravaggio was imprisoned and then fled to Sicily. Works last period the life of the master is poorly preserved. Pictures related to this time are full of drama. These include the Burial of St. Lucia", "The Beheading of John the Baptist", "The Adoration of the Shepherds". These paintings are united by the night space, acting as a backdrop for the main action and reluctantly parting, showing the heroes of the canvas.

The last years of Caravaggio spent wandering around Sicily. Shortly before his death, he went to Rome, where he was promised help in obtaining forgiveness from the Pope. However, even here fate was not disposed to meet him halfway. On the way to the Eternal City, the artist fell ill. He died at Porto d'Ercole in 1610 from a fever.

Italian artist Michelangelo Caravaggio, photos of whose works adorn all works on history art XVII century, had a huge impact on the development of painting. It is hard to imagine how many more masterpieces the master could have created if his life had not ended at the age of 38. However, the fact that the artist managed to create made him one of the most revered masters of the past. Becoming the founder of realism, he inspired the creation of masterpieces of many famous painters Western Europe. Rubens, Rembrandt, Velasquez and many others belong to their number. The followers of Michelangelo Merisi in Italy began to call themselves caravagists, paying tribute to the pioneer of the genre.

Michelangelo Merisi da Caravaggio (Italian Michelangelo Merisi da Caravaggio; September 29, 1571 (15710929), Milan - July 18, 1610, Porto Ercole) - Italian artist, reformer European painting XVII century, the founder of realism in painting, one of the greatest masters of the Baroque. He was one of the first to apply the style of writing "chiaroscuro" - a sharp opposition of light and shadow. Not a single drawing or sketch was found, the artist complex compositions immediately realized on the canvas.

The son of the architect Fermo Merisi and his second wife Lucia Aratori, the daughter of a landowner from the town of Caravaggio, near Milan. His father served as manager of the Marquis Francesco Sforza da Caravaggio. In 1576, during the plague, the father and grandfather died, the mother and children moved to Caravaggio.

The first patrons of the future artist were the Duke and Duchess of Colonna.

In 1584, in Milan, Michelangelo Merisi came to the workshop of Peterzano, who was considered a student of Titian. At that time in the art world Italy was dominated by Mannerism, but Lombard realism was strong in Milan.

The first works of the artist, written in Milan, genre scenes and portraits, have not survived to this day.

By the end of the 1580s, the life of the quick-tempered Merisi was overshadowed by scandals, fights and imprisonments that would accompany him all his life.

In 1589, the artist comes home to sell his land allotment, apparently in need of money. Last time he visits the house after his mother's death in 1590.

In the autumn of 1591, he was forced to flee Milan after a quarrel over a card game that ended in murder. After stopping first in Venice, he heads to Rome.

In Rome, Merisi noticed Pandolfo Pucci, invited him to his house, ensured his existence by instructing him to make copies from church paintings.

Borromeo, who met Caravaggio at the time of his Roman life, described him as “an uncouth man, with rough manners, always dressed in rags and living wherever he wants. Drawing street boys, regulars of taverns and miserable tramps, he looked quite happy man". Borromeo admitted that he did not like everything in the artist's paintings.

In the capital, according to the custom of Italian artists of that time, he receives a nickname associated with the place of birth, as, for example, it was with Veronese or Correggio. So Michelangelo Merisi became Caravaggio.

In 1593, Caravaggio entered the workshop of Cesari d'Arpino, who instructed Caravaggio to paint flowers and leaves on frescoes. In the workshop of d'Arpino, he met patrons and artists, in particular, Jan Brueghel the Elder.

The early works of Caravaggio were written under the influence of Leonardo da Vinci (he met Madonna in the Rocks and The Last Supper in Milan), Giorgione, Titian, Giovanni Bellini, Mantegna.

The first painting that has come down to us is Boy Peeling Fruit (1593).

In the workshop of d'Arpino, Caravaggio met Mario Minniti, who became his student and model for a number of paintings, the first of which is "Young Man with a Basket of Fruit" (1593-1594).

After a fight, Caravaggio ends up in the Tor di Nona prison, where he meets Giordano Bruno.

Soon he breaks with Cesari d'Arpino, the homeless Caravaggio invited Antiveduto Grammar to his place.

In 1593, he fell ill with Roman fever (one of the names for malaria), and for six months he was in the hospital on the verge of life and death. Perhaps, under the impression of the disease, he creates the painting “Sick Bacchus” (1593) - his first self-portrait.

The first multi-figure paintings were created in 1594 - these are "Rounders" and "Fortune Teller" (Capitoline Museums). Georges de Latour would later write his "The Fortuneteller" with an identical composition.

In these works, he appears as a bold innovator who challenged the main artistic directions of that era - to mannerism and academism, opposing them with the harsh realism and democracy of his art. The hero of Caravaggio is a man from the street crowd, a Roman boy or youth, endowed with coarse sensual beauty and the naturalness of a thoughtlessly cheerful being; the hero of Caravaggio appears either in the role of a street vendor, a musician, an ingenuous dandy, listening to a crafty gypsy, or in the guise and with the attributes of an ancient god. These genre in their own way the essence of the characters, flooded bright light, brought close to the viewer, are depicted with emphasized monumentality and plastic tangibility.

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He is called the reformer of the European visual arts XVII century, which introduced a lot of new things into the style that had prevailed before. If earlier the images on the religious canvases that dominated at that time were idealized, then with the advent of Caravaggio, maximum naturalism began to be used in their depiction. He was one of the first to use new method letters "chiaroscuro" - a sharp opposition of light and shadow. The realism of the written images made the ancient gods, Christian saints and martyrs closer to the world of living people, they clearly read individuality and character, which reduced their pathos, made art more “democratic”. All details, even minor ones, were drawn very carefully, which created the effect of reality, “tangibility”. Caravaggio made a significant contribution to the development of new directions for the art of that time - household genre and still life, which previously belonged to the "low" genres.

It is noteworthy that when creating his complex compositions, the artist did not use sketches and sketches, immediately realizing the idea on canvas.

In addition to his unique talent, the artist was an extraordinary personality with a complex character. The very story of his life painting full of contrasts: creative ups and successes coexist with duels, fights and debauchery, and knighthood is followed by imprisonment, escape from Rome due to murder, wandering around different cities Italy and death at the age of 37 from malaria in loneliness and sadness.

Starting your creative way from poverty in Rome: odd jobs and adding paintings by recognized masters, Caravaggio achieved a prestigious position and achieved unequivocal approval of his work during his lifetime, with which many talented masters were not always lucky. He received many orders.

It is worth noting that the customers did not always understand the artist's innovation: some works were considered indecent due to the relentless adherence to the truth of life and the depiction of the body in all naturalness, but this did not prevent the rejected works from being sold to an enlightened public that highly appreciated the painter's talent.

"Vecherka" recalls the 6 most significant paintings great artist, made in various genre directions.

1. religious painting: "The Entombment" (1602-1604).

One of the most monumental works artist. The painting was intended for the altar of the Roman church of Chiesa Nuova. For a long time it was considered the most important masterpiece of the artist. In 1797, the French took her to Paris to the Napoleon Museum. In 1815, the painting was returned and since 1820 it has been in the Pinacoteca in the Vatican.

TO biblical stories Caravaggio came in his over mature creativity. In them the artist found the drama of modern life. Deliberately rather conventionally interpreting lofty images, moving away from sublime beauty and heroism, he tries to raise the harsh reality to the level of a legend, a myth. And vice versa, to lower the arrogance of religious heroes to the drama folk life, and the mourning of Christ - to an event understandable to everyone.

In the faces, postures and gestures of the characters there is not the slightest hint of pathos and lofty feelings. The heroes of Caravaggio behave naturally, as ordinary, simple people. In sincere grief, they bowed their heads, as if bent under the weight of misfortune that had fallen on them. Thanks to the angle of view, the viewer is, as it were, included in the picture. The contrast of a bright stream of light and the dark part of the picture emphasizes the mournful expressiveness of the entire canvas.

Here are some of the characters in the composition. The body of Christ is supported by the young John the Evangelist, to whom Jesus entrusted the care of his mother before his death. The feet of the Savior are held by Joseph of Arimathea; this man obtained permission to remove the body of Christ from the cross and then placed it in the tomb he had prepared for himself. Of the women, the far left is the mother of Jesus, the Virgin Mary.

2. Mythological painting: "Bacchus" (1592-93)

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This picture also perfectly reflects the innovative style of Caravaggio, his non-standard approach to the interpretation of plots: his Bacchus in no way resembles an inaccessible pretentious deity. On the contrary, he looks as close as possible to a real young man: a pampered and somewhat vulgar young man, half drunk in appearance, who turned his plump effeminate face towards the viewer and holds out a goblet of wine gracefully curved fingers, "decorated" with a thick layer of dirt under the nails. Carefully written details show all the naturalism of the image. The fruit and the decanter in the picture attract almost more attention than Bacchus himself. Among the fruits are quince, grapes, pomegranates, apples with traces of caterpillars. Fruit, most of which is presented in a spoiled, inedible state, is believed by critics to personify the futility of worldly fuss.

The author seems to be saying that this is not Bacchus at all, but some completely ordinary person who put on the attributes of the ancient God and looks at the viewer with a languid and at the same time wary look from under half-lowered eyelashes. However, the sensual charm of the picture is so great that the viewer does not feel a drop of irony or negativity.

This canvas perfectly reflects the artist's signature trait - the display of a festive - playful beginning and even erotic overtones in ancient stories.

The painting is kept in Uffizi Gallery in Florence.

3. Portrait painting: "Lute player" (1595)

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This picture is visually familiar even to those who are not familiar with the artist's work. "Young man with a lute" (the second name of the picture) - early work artist, but already in him all the features were fully manifested artistic language master, his desire to convey the materiality of the surrounding world.

The painting depicts a musician playing the lute. His figure, dressed in a white shirt, stands out clearly against the dark background of the wall. The inspirational face of the musician, with half-open lips and a wet sheen in dreamy eyes, brings domestic scene poetic mood and a healthy touch of sensuality. Lighting effects further emphasize the festive and lyrical atmosphere of music making.

A violin with a bow lying in front of the musician seems to invite the viewer to join the performer and play a duet. Fruits and vegetables lie on the table to the left, a vase of flowers is visible a little further in the depth. Sharp side lighting, own and falling shadows give objects an almost tangible volume and weight. Moreover, still life objects also have their own individual characteristics: shabby notes, cracked lute, dented pear.

Interestingly, the debate about what gender the hero of the Caravaggio painting does not stop with XVII century. However, the author himself said that his favorite Mario Minniti, with whom he lived in his youth in Rome, posed for this (and other) paintings. In the works of this cycle love feeling symbolically transmitted through the images of fruits (as if inviting the viewer to enjoy their taste) and musical instruments(music as a symbol of fleeting sensual pleasure)

A pleasant fact is that the painting is kept in St. Petersburg, in the Hermitage.

4. Self-portrait: "Sick Bacchus" (1573-1610)

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Despite the repeated appeal to mythological themes, this masterpiece early period creativity of Caravaggio, refers to the self-portraits of the artist. In the picture, written after his stay in the hospital, the first signs of drama appeared, which marked the mature painting of the master. Having stayed for a long time between life and death, he then often turned to this state in his canvases.

The name arose later, when the face of a young man recovering from an illness, depicted on the canvas, was recognized as the god of winemaking Bacchus. The painting was painted during the life of Caravaggio in Rome. Unable to pay the sitter, the artist drew his own mirror reflection. This allowed posterity to create an idea of ​​his appearance.

The young Caravaggio plays up the theme of the frailty of being very skillfully: in the color itself with cold, greenish-blue tones, the state of chills that grips the young man is almost physically felt. The Greek god of wine and fun is sitting in the very outfit in which the painter will depict him a couple of years later in the picture that we talked about above, now in the Uffizi Gallery: a white cape is grabbed by a dark belt tied with a bow. But if Bacchus on the canvas from the Uffizi is depicted as healthy, blooming and invitingly plays with the end of his sash, then this one is weak and does not think to tease or amuse anyone. On his head is a half withered wreath, not woven from vine leaves at all, as it should be. And in general, this is not Bacchus, but a mortal dressed up with him, as if the artist is speaking, lowering us from heaven to earth.

Now the work is in the collection of the Borghese Gallery in Rome.

5. household painting: "Rounders"(circa 1596)

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As already mentioned, Caravaggio is one of the founders genre painting. The card game is a fairly recurring theme in his work (he himself was a passionate player, and in one of the games a fight broke out, resulting in a murder, after which the artist was forced to flee).

Behind a rough wooden table goes card game, one of the varieties of old poker. On the left, a young and apparently inexperienced player is carefully examining his cards. Over his shoulder, a middle-aged man, one of the sharpers, is looking in the same direction. At the same time, fingers right hand he submits secret sign to his partner, who sits opposite and hides five of hearts behind his back. On the left in the foreground in the box rises a column made up of coins - an object of desire for an unclean couple.

The picture is full of internal dynamism, the characters of the players are carefully spelled out and give the impression of their personality.

In 1627, after the death of the owner of the painting, Cardinal del Monte, the painting "Rounders" was inventoried among other things of his property, but then was lost. The location of the painting was unknown for for long years, it was accidentally discovered in the European private collection only in 1987. The painting is currently in the Kimbell Museum.

6. Still Life: Fruit Basket(c. 1596)

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The picture is iconic, because before Caravaggio, in fact, still lifes "in pure form” did not exist in European painting. After Caravaggio, this genre gained great popularity. To compensate for the "poverty of the plot", Caravaggio resorts to an illusionistic technique that helps to give greater monumentality to the very subject depicted in the picture. The basket is at the level of the viewer's eyes, and the edge of the table delimits the image space from the outside space. However, by depicting the basket standing on the table with only part of its base, the artist achieved the impression that the basket, having partially "descended" from the canvas, invaded the viewer's space. And in the image of fruit, the artist achieved an almost tangible volume.

The painting is kept in the Pinacoteca Ambrosiana in Milan.

Interesting Facts

Caravaggio's devotion to realism sometimes went very far. Such an extreme case is the history of the creation of the painting "The Resurrection of Lazarus". Referring to the testimonies of eyewitnesses, the writer Suzinno tells how the artist ordered to bring the body of a recently murdered man dug out from the grave young man and undress him to achieve greater authenticity when writing Lazarus. Two hired sitters flatly refused to pose, holding in their hands a corpse that had already begun to decompose. Then, angry, Caravaggio drew a dagger and forced them to submit to his will by force.

Brief biography of Caravaggio

Caravaggio Michelangelo Merisi da (1573-1610), Italian painter.

Born September 28, 1573 in the town of Caravaggio in Lombardy (Northern Italy). He received his art education in Milan. He moved to Rome around 1590. The first years of his life here he earned by painting flowers and fruits in the paintings of other artists. Then he began to independently create genre works and still lifes. The main thing in works of Caravaggio- characteristic types of people. The painter asserted the superiority of direct reproduction of the surrounding world, the simplicity and naturalness of everyday life (“Girl with a Lute”, 1595).

He often chose religious themes.

The amazing concreteness and materiality of forms, the bold interpretation of biblical characters, which the artist endowed with resemblance to the common people - all this brought him scandalous fame. Often, Caravaggio interpreted religious subjects as genre scenes (The Calling of Matthew, 1597-1601; Conversion of Paul, 1601; Unbelief of Thomas, 1603). The saints and martyrs in his paintings are strong, full-blooded people. Caravaggio knew the life of the people very well and made him the hero of his works.

From picture to picture, the drama of perception intensifies, an increasing attraction to monumentality is manifested, the tragic power of images grows (“The Entombment”, 1604; “Assumption of Mary”, 1605-1606, etc.).

The harsh realism of Caravaggio was not understood by his contemporaries, causing attacks from the clergy and officials. But the artist kept all his life loyalty his convictions, inner independence, perseverance in achieving the goal. A man of violent temperament, he aggravated his situation with his temper. After in time ball game he killed his opponent, Caravaggio fled from Rome.

The last years of his life were spent in wanderings. He died on July 8, 1610 in Port Erco-le (Grand Duchy of Tuscany, now in Central Italy).

Caravaggio was the largest representative of the realistic trend in Italian art of the 17th century, who had a huge impact on the development of all realistic painting in Europe.

Michelangelo da Caravaggio

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"Summary"

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The “cellar light”, penetrating into a dark room after Christ and St. Peter, highlights the figures of the people gathered around the table and at the same time emphasizes the miraculous nature of the appearance of Christ and St. Peter, his reality and at the same time unreality, snatching out of the darkness only part of the profile of Jesus, the thin brush of his outstretched hand, the yellow cloak of St. Peter, while their figures dimly emerge from the shadows.

In the second picture of this cycle - “The Martyrdom of St. Matthew" - the desire for a more bravura and spectacular solution prevailed. The third picture is "St. Matthew and the Angel” (subsequently located in the Berlin Museum of the Emperor Friedrich and died during the Second World War) was rejected by the customers, shocked by the rude, commonplace appearance of the apostle. In the altar paintings "The Martyrdom of St. Peter" and "Conversion of Saul" (1600-1601, Santa Maria del Popolo, Cerasi Chapel, Rome) Caravaggio finds a balance between dramatic pathos and defiant naturalistic details. Even more organically, he combines the emphatically plebeian appearance of the characters and the depth of dramatic pathos in the mournfully solemn altarpieces The Entombment (1602-1604, Vatican Pinakothek) and The Assumption of Mary (1605-1606, Louvre), which aroused the admiration of young artists, including Rubens (at his insistence, the "Assumption of Mary", rejected by the customers, was bought by the Duke of Mantua).

Studied under Simone Peterzano in Milan. In 1592-1594. moved to Rome, where he acquired the patronage of Cardinal del Monte. In May 1606, after a quarrel during a ball game and the murder of a quarrel participant in a duel, he was forced to flee from Rome to Naples, from where in 1607 he moved to the island of Malta. Here, having come into conflict with a powerful nobleman, he was thrown into prison and fled to Sicily. In 1608-1609, pursued by assassins sent by the same nobleman, he wandered through the cities of Sicily and southern Italy, in 1610, counting on the help of Roman patrons and the forgiveness of the pope, he went to Rome. On the way, he was mistakenly arrested by Spanish customs officers, then continued on his way and in the town of Porto d'Ercole died of a fever at the age of 38.