Caravaggio was a pioneer of Baroque painting who was active in Italy from the late 16th century to the early 17th century. His real name was Michelangelo Merisi da Caravaggio , and he was nicknamed "Caravaggio" after the name of his hometown. His dramatic use of light and dark, thorough realism, and dramatic composition made a huge impact on the art world of the time and had a huge influence on artists of later generations.

Caravaggio Biography

• Born September 29, 1571 in Caravaggio, near Milan, Italy.
• Around 1584, he entered the studio of the Milanese painter Simone Peterzano.
• Around 1592, he moved to Rome and began to focus on painting.
• In the late 1590s, he attracted attention by producing masterpieces such as "Boy with a Basket of Fruit" and "Bacchus."
• Around 1600, he achieved fame with the series "The Life of Saint Matthew" for the Basilica of San Luigi dei Francesi in Rome.
• In 1606, he committed murder after a fight and fled Rome. He traveled to Naples, Malta, Sicily, etc.
• While on the run, he produced masterpieces such as "The Entombment of Christ" and "The Virgin of the Rosary"
• Died at Porto Ercole on July 18, 1610 (aged 38)

Representative works

• The Calling of St Matthew (1599-1600)
• The Entombment of Christ (1602-1603)
• Supper at Emmaus (1601)
• Boy with a Basket of Fruit (c. 1593)
• The Fortune Teller (c. 1594)

The Art of Caravaggio

The greatest characteristic of Caravaggio's art is his dramatic composition, using strong contrasts between light and darkness. This technique is called chiaroscuro or tenebrism , and Caravaggio took its expression to the limit. Another important element of Caravaggio's art is his thorough realism , such as portraying saints and historical figures in ordinary people's guise. These characteristics are particularly evident in his "Life of St. Matthew" series in the Basilica of San Luigi dei Francesi in Rome. Despite the religious subject matter, his vivid depictions, which seem to be sliced ​​out scenes from real life, made a huge impact on people at the time.

Caravaggio's influence and later recognition

Caravaggio's innovative art had a great influence on subsequent Baroque art. In particular, artists who were strongly influenced by him were called Caravagesti , and were active not only in Italy but also throughout Europe. It is also said that masters such as Rembrandt and Rubens learned a lot from Caravaggio's art. Today, Caravaggio is counted as one of the most important painters in the history of Western art, as a pioneer of Baroque art . Keywords such as " chiaroscuro ," " tenebrism ," " realism ," " Caravagesti ," and " Baroque art " are essential elements to understanding Caravaggio's art. His works are housed in museums around the world and continue to fascinate many people even today.