Caravaggio was born as Michelangelo Merisi in Italy around 1571. When Caravaggio was six, the bubonic plague rolled through his life, killing almost everyone in his family, including his father. He was orphaned at age 11 and apprenticed with a painter in Milan. He later moved to Rome, where his work became popular for the tenebrism technique he used, which used shadow to emphasize lighter areas. His career, however, was short-lived for he lived a tumultuous life and died at the age of 36, on July 18, 1610.

Caravaggio, came to be recognized as one of the founding fathers of modern painting. His work greatly influenced so many future masters, from Diego Velazquez to Rembrandt. His ability to portray human emotion is astonishing.

The Calling of Saint Matthew

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I’m passionate about art history, preservation and interpretation. I’d love to hear from you, if you have thoughts of your own to share. Feel free to message me or comment.