Brushstrokes across borders - Caravaggio by Federica Macchini

Early life - 1D Winckelmann (Flavia F.)

federicamacchini1 — 2026-03-08 18:39:54 UTC

Caravaggio was a great Italian painter. He painted beautiful fruity paintings, but also paintings of people having fun, playing cards and telling fortunes. His real name was Michelangelo Merisi. He was born in Milan in 1571 and passed away in Porto Ercole in 1610 at the age of 39.

His apprenticeship - 1D Winckelmann (Alessandro C.; Nathan D.)

federicamacchini1 — 2026-03-09 15:12:26 UTC

When he was only five years old, his family moved to their hometown of Caravaggio to escape the plague (brought by fleas on the rats); it was from this town that he took the name by which he is now known worldwide.

When he was about 13, he started to learn about painting in the art studio of Mr. Peterzano. Since then his works were really apreciated.

His experience in Rome - 1D Winckelmann (Tommaso M.; Alessandro M.)

federicamacchini1 — 2026-03-09 15:24:43 UTC

When he moved to Rome, he met Cardinal Del Monte. Thanks to him, he could get a lot of works, by introducing him to several art collectors. And in a few years he received his first public assignment: he had to decorate the inside chapel Contarelli in the church of S. Luigi dei Francesi.

His personality - 1D Winckelmann (Sophia D.)

federicamacchini1 — 2026-03-09 16:14:51 UTC

Caravaggio had a very big problem: he had a bad uncontrollable temper. He drank too much, he spent his free time in taverns and he used to fight with other artists, causing a lot of troubles to himself and to others.

The Contarelli Chapel - 1D Winckelmann (Dario D.)

federicamacchini1 — 2026-03-09 16:25:53 UTC

Cardinal Del Monte provided Caravaggio his most important public commission for the Jubilee of 1600.

In the church of S. Luigi dei Francesi Caravaggio was asked to paint three big paintings inspired to the story of Saint Matthew:

-the calling of Saint Matthew (Vocazione di San Matteo)

-the inspiration of Saint Matthew (San Matteo e l'angelo)

-the martyrdom of Saint Matthew (Martirio di San Matteo)

Caravaggio's way of painting - 1D Winckelmann - collaborative classwork

federicamacchini1 — 2026-03-09 16:34:57 UTC

He used big contrasts between lights and shadows to recreate dramatic stories. He was a very fast, instictive, natural painter. He didn't draw or prepare his paintings. He coloured the canvas in black and let the figures come to life with the use of colours. He also used as models normal and real people with their ugliness: wrinkles, big noses, dirty feet...

Malta - 1D Winckelmann (Greta M.)

federicamacchini1 — 2026-03-11 13:06:26 UTC

In 1606 Caravaggio was in a violent fight and he killed a man named Ranuccio Tomassoni. Because of this crime, he was sentenced to death and he had to escape from Rome to save his life. In 1607 he went to the island of Malta. He wanted to become a Knight of Malta because knights had special protection from the law. However, he was into another fight and went to prison. He managed to escape but was expelled from the Order of the Knights of Malta.

His tragic final years - 1D Winckelmann (Filippo A.)

federicamacchini1 — 2026-03-11 13:20:20 UTC

After escaping from Malta, he travelled again to Syracuse and then to Naples. There some men attacked him outside a tavern. He was badly injured. While recovering, he heard some good news: the Pope wanted to pardon him, so Caravaggio could finally return to Rome. On the way back to Rome, on board a ship sailing to porto Ercole, he was arrested at Palo Laziale. The ship sailed without him, taking all his bags and paintings. Caravaggio managed to escape from prison. Then he travelled to Porto Ercole, probably on horseback, to find his things and his paintings. He was very tired and had a high fever. He died on the beach of La Feniglia near Porto Ercole on July 18, 1610.