Caravaggio

Biography

Michelangelo Merisi da Caravaggio (1571–1610) was an Italian painter renowned for his revolutionary approach to realism and dramatic use of light and shadow, known as chiaroscuro. Born on September 29, 1571, in Milan, Caravaggio trained in Lombardy before moving to Rome, where he developed his distinctive style that combined naturalistic depiction with intense emotional drama.

Caravaggio’s works often depict religious and mythological subjects with striking realism, capturing human emotion and physical detail in unprecedented ways. Iconic paintings include The Calling of Saint Matthew (1599–1600), Judith Beheading Holofernes (1598–1599), and Supper at Emmaus (1601). His dramatic contrasts of light and shadow and his focus on ordinary people as models challenged traditional artistic conventions, influencing generations of Baroque painters.

Caravaggio’s life was marked by turbulence, including frequent conflicts with the law and a tumultuous personal life. He died under mysterious circumstances on July 18, 1610, in Porto Ercole. Today, Caravaggio is celebrated as a master of Baroque art, whose innovative techniques and emotional intensity transformed European painting.