“All works, no matter what or by whom painted, are nothing but bagatelles and childish trifles... unless they are made and painted from life, and there can be nothing... better than to follow nature”.
Michelangelo Merisi da Caravaggio
Assault. Murder. Consorting with the devil. The notorious succès-de-scandale of the 17th century,
Often accused of all of these and more, during his tempestuous career, Michelangelo Merisi da Caravaggio was condemned as the art worlds "antichrist”, and was as controversial for his revolutionary artworks as he was for his infamous temper and frequent brushes with the law.
A notorious painter during his life, following his death Caravaggio was largely forgotten and it wasn't until the 20th century that his key role in the development of Western art was remembered.
Caravaggio's works constitute some of the most stunning works in the entire history of Western painting. Observing the evolution of his style from his early works (The Fortune Teller, Bacchus and Narcissus) to his major successes (The Calling of Saint Matthew and Doubting Thomas) to his final paintings (David with the Head of Goliath) is like watching the tumultuous ups and downs of his own scandalous life.
