The bad boy of Italian art? The papparazzi of today would have had a field day with this tumultuous, capricious, creative genius! Even from the beginning, he was an enigmatic individual. I thumbed through a great biography by Peter Robb called M: The Man Who Became Carivaggio. He was born Michelangelo Merisi however his friends called him M, and he was ultimately called Carivaggio after the town in which he spent his childhood. Having been christened Elizabeth, but called every variation from Liz, Liza, Lizzy, Beth, Betty, Betsy, Elie, Libby, Liddy and even E, I can certainly understand how it can be difficult to attach importance and sense of self when given so many different labels.His paintings were hidden in attics, basements, churches and other hidey-holes, painted over & rotting, and have only been discovered within the last 20 years or so. One thing amazing about his work and creative genius was his ability to show things as they really were, conveying reality and feeling and life in a way that made other artists of his time jealous of his prowess. It is also incredible to find out that he used common "street" people, i.e. prostitutes, destitue homeless people and other "down and outs" as subjects for many religious paintings. Can you imagine looking at a new prestigious painting in a new church and realizing it depicted the bum on the street corner as the apostle Peter? Or a prostitute being painted in the likeness of the Virgin Mary?
Peter Killed, or Crocifissione di San Pietro, 1601
Currently in Rome in Chiesa di Santa Maria del Popolo
Currently in Rome in Chiesa di Santa Maria del Popolo
10-foot-high Entombment of Christ, or Deposizione, 1602-3.
Now hanging in the Vatican Museum in Rome.
Now hanging in the Vatican Museum in Rome.
When he was 39 he disappeared, and the only few written traces of his life are some scribbled written receipts, police reports and court transcripts. What other way could a bad boy exit the center stage?
Hello Elizabeth of Santa Cruz!
ReplyDeleteI really enjoyed your blog this week on Caravaggio! You are an excellent writer! I started reading the rest of Ch 22 and am amazed at how many artists from all over Europe were effected by his style and attempted to emulate it in their artworks. It makes me wonder what he could have accomplished if he had not died at such a young age?
I thought that too, Kimberlie-- about his age-- what a shame. And Elizabeth, as well as your blogs being well written and interesting, they are so beautifully laid out! Thank you for the extra information on Caravaggio.
ReplyDeleteHello again Elizabeth,
ReplyDeleteThanks for stopping by my blog and commenting on it! I am glad you enjoy my posts : ) You will have to get to Italy.. it is the most art-laden place in the world as far as I'm concerned.. its kind of the Yosemite of the art world..(the highest praise for me.. as Yosemite is my favorite place in nature!)
I am planning on going back on July of 2010 for 2-6 weeks.. maybe take a class in Sculpture there and live at the museums.
Have a great week..
Kimberlie
I liked reading your blog about Caravaggio and how you gave some extra info on him. I like how he used normal people off the streets for his subjects; I think it adds a little more variety to art.
ReplyDeleteThis was a really good blog! I like the pictures that you attached with it. My favorite piece is of the entombment. This piece is very interesting to me beacause of the differenet colors that have been used, the way each figure it positioned and how they fit the whole picture.
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