Introduction
Italian Baroque painter Michelangelo Merisi da Caravaggio is renowned for his inventive use of light and dark, dramatic realism, and emotional intensity. He was raised in the Italian town of Caravaggio and began his artistic education at a young age by working as an apprentice in Milan, later relocating to Rome. His use of dramatic chiaroscuro, which produced a powerful sense of depth and drama, was renowned in his paintings.
Caravaggio experienced both personal and legal issues throughout his life. He was notorious for having a violent temper and being in several violent fights. He was accused of murder in 1606 after killing a man in a row. He fled Rome and spent the rest of his life in exile, moving between Sicily, Malta, and Naples.
He passed away in 1610, although his cause of death is unknown. Despite having a complicated personal life, Caravaggio’s art had a profound impact and remains among the most significant examples of Baroque painting. In this essay, Caravaggio’s life and art will be examined, with particular attention paid to his three most illustrious periods and how they reveal his emotional state through the finer aspects of his paintings.
Timeline of Caravaggio
Michelangelo Merisi da Caravaggio was born in 1571 in the Italian city of Caravaggio. In Milan in 1592, he started his formal instruction in the arts as an apprentice, studying under numerous well-known masters. He relocated to Rome in 1595, where he established himself as an artist.
Caravaggio’s paintings, created during his stay in Rome, were renowned for their dramatic use of light and dark, as well as their extreme realism. However, he had a contentious and violent personal life, which included multiple violent fights and a murder accusation in 1606. He fled Rome and spent the remainder of his life in exile, relocating to Sicily, Malta, and Naples before passing away mysteriously in 1610.
Timeline of Caravaggio’s Work
Three distinct periods may be identified in Caravaggio’s art. Scenes of poverty, brutality, and hopelessness marked his formative years. Between 1600 and 1606, during his mature phase, Caravaggio’s style evolved into one that was more dramatic and emotive, characterized by works that conveyed strong emotion and explored religious themes. Caravaggio’s personal life during this time was marked by conflict and violence, which is reflected in his artwork.
Between 1606 and 1610, Caravaggio’s late period marked a shift toward a more reflective and introspective style, characterized by paintings that depicted scenes of solitude and contemplation. Caravaggio’s health deteriorated, and he was more reclusive at this time. This feeling of isolation and meditation was captured in his paintings at the time. Caravaggio was one of the most important Baroque artists, thanks to the dramatic use of light and dark and his profound realism throughout his career.
Thesis
Michelangelo Merisi da Caravaggio’s works span three notable eras. By comparing the stylistic changes throughout these three eras with works from other Baroque artists of his time, we can map a timeline of his emotional state as seen in the details of his paintings.
Era One: Early Training and Work
Comparison of Works
The naturalism of Northern European artists like Caravaggio’s contemporaries and forebears, such as Bartolomeo Cavarozzi, Giovanni Baglione, and Annibale Carracci, had an impact on Caravaggio’s style throughout the Early Training and Work period. However, the use of dramatic lighting and a harsh, realistic approach that accentuated the bodies of his subjects made Caravaggio’s work stand out. His use of chiaroscuro—the interplay of light and shadow—gave his paintings a sense of drama and depth, setting them apart from the work of his peers.
In terms of style, Bartolomeo Cavarozzi, another artist active in Rome at the time, can be contrasted with Caravaggio. While the naturalism of the Northern European painters impacted both artists, Caravaggio’s use of chiaroscuro and dramatic lighting distinguished his work from theirs. The stark contrasts and harsh realism distinguished Caravaggio’s paintings; Cavarozzi’s paintings tended to be more idealized and softly illuminated.
Giovanni Baglione is a different painter from this era whose work is comparable to Caravaggio’s. The Northern European painters’ naturalism influenced Baglione, a contemporary of Caravaggio. However, Baglione’s art was more subduedly illuminated and romanticized than Caravaggio’s. Caravaggio’s subjects were portrayed with a grim realism that highlighted their physique and humanity, unlike Baglione’s figures, who were frequently idealized and presented more classically.
Life State
Caravaggio had numerous obstacles and struggles throughout his early training and work phase, affecting his personal life and art. Caravaggio was born in Milan in 1571 into a family of artisans, and his early years were turbulent and tragic. He was exposed to the thriving art scene of the era after his family relocated to Caravaggio in Lombardy, Italy, after his father’s death when he was a little boy. Caravaggio learnt the fundamentals of painting and drawing while working as an apprentice for the painter Simone Peterzano in Milan when he was a young artist.
Later, he relocated to Rome, where he had difficulty supporting himself as an artist. Caravaggio frequently struggled to make ends meet and was dependent on the kindness of his friends and clients. He was also notorious for having a short fuse and a propensity for picking fights, frequently resulting in legal problems.
Despite these difficulties, Caravaggio persisted in honing his creative abilities and making a name for himself in Rome’s cutthroat artistic community. The works of his contemporaries influenced him, particularly the dramatic compositions of Italian painters like Annibale Carracci and the naturalistic manner of Northern European painters like Caravaggisti, who preceded Caravaggio. His use of chiaroscuro, the contrast between light and dark, to produce dramatic, emotionally charged compositions, is another example of how he evolved his unique style.
Comparison to Moods of His Work
Caravaggio’s works during the Early Training and Work period were distinguished by a strong emotional tone that portrayed the grim reality of daily life. His subjects were frequently shown in a vulnerable position, stressing their difficulties and sufferings. Caravaggio used chiaroscuro to add drama and tension to his paintings while deepening their emotional resonance.
For instance, Caravaggio depicts a little boy duped and taken advantage of by a crafty fortune teller in Figure 1, “The Fortune Teller” (1595–1596). While the fortune teller is shown with a cunning and calculating expression, the boy is shown with a confused and vulnerable expression. The painting’s general tone of deceit and exploitation draws attention to the harsh realities of life for individuals who are defenseless and weak.
Similar figures playing a game of deception are shown by a group of shady, unreliable individuals in Caravaggio’s painting “The Cardsharps” (1594–1595), Figure 2. The young man, the main character, is shown cheating on his opponent while wearing a focused and devious expression. Meanwhile, the other characters in the artwork are established in various terms of doubt and skepticism. The painting’s general tone of betrayal and dishonesty emphasizes the harsh facts of life for people who are not morally straight and honest.
Era Two: Mature Period
Comparison of Works
Caravaggio distinguished himself from other artists of his day throughout the Mature Period of his career thanks to his distinctive style. His paintings used chiaroscuro, contrasting light and dark, to evoke drama and depth. This method of painting stood in stark contrast to the then-dominant, more traditional, and idealized painting style.
Caravaggio uses chiaroscuro in his image, Figure 3, “The Calling of St. Matthew” (1599-1600). The scene in the artwork shows Matthew being summoned to accompany Jesus. The individuals in the painting are realistically and emotionally portrayed, with Matthew appearing bewildered and uncertain while Jesus gestures urgently in his direction. The viewer is drawn to the figures and their emotions by the dramatic impact of the contrast between the light hitting the figures and the dark background.
Other era artists, such as Annibale Carracci and Peter Paul Rubens, were well recognized for their more idealized representations of characters and scenes, in contrast to Caravaggio’s realistic and dynamic manner. The Virgin Mary’s ascent into heaven is depicted in Carracci’s “Assumption of the Virgin” (1600), Figure 4. Mary is shown flying upward, surrounded by angels, while the others in the painting are rendered with an idealized sense of beauty and grace.
The moment Christ is carried down from the cross is also shown in Rubens’s “The Descent from the Cross” (1612–1614), Figure 5. Mary is portrayed in the picture with a tranquil smile, looking down at Christ with an idealized sense of beauty and grace. On the other hand, the reality and intensity of Caravaggio’s paintings frequently set them apart from other artists. This helped him become a significant character in the growth of Baroque painting by setting his works apart from the more traditional and idealized works of his contemporaries.
Life State
Caravaggio’s mature period was characterized by conflict and upheaval in his personal life. In 1606, he was accused of murder after killing a man in a fight and was obliged to leave Rome and live the rest of his life in exile due to this incident, which profoundly affected his life. Caravaggio continued to produce some of his most stirring and moving paintings between Sicily, Malta, and Naples. His existence in exile was characterized by ambiguity and volatility, and his paintings from this period reflect this.
During this time, spiritual introspection was also evident in Caravaggio’s personal life. He was profoundly impacted by the spiritual upheaval of the moment and the religious themes in his paintings. This is depicted in his painting “The Conversion of St. Paul” (1601), Figure 6, which shows the scene when a light beam strikes St. Paul and becomes a Christian. As the force of God subdues him, the figure of St. Paul is portrayed with amazement and surprise.
Caravaggio’s struggle with religion and his quest for a higher purpose during his exile are reflected in this picture. During his Mature Period, Caravaggio continued to produce some of his most potent and moving paintings despite the difficulties he had in his personal life. Although his depictions of emotion and human vulnerability marked the beginning of a new era in art, his use of chiaroscuro—the contrast between light and dark—added drama and depth to his paintings.
Comparison of Moods in His Life and Works
The Mature Period paintings of Caravaggio frequently feature scenes of solid emotion and religious themes. For instance, “The Calling of St. Matthew” (1599-1600), Figure 7, represents the occasion when Jesus summons Matthew to accompany him. The figures in the painting are depicted with realistic emotion, showing Matthew looking confused and hesitant as Jesus gestures toward him urgently.
Similar to this, “The Entombment of Christ” (1603–1604), Figure 8, shows the process of removing Christ from the cross and preparing him for burial. Mary Magdalene is seen staring up at the viewer with tears, as the other individuals in the picture are also depicted with a sense of anguish and sorrow. Caravaggio’s emotional intensity and internal struggle during this time in his career are reflected in these paintings.
Era Three: Late Period
Comparison of Works
With a concentration on unique emotions and experiences, Caravaggio’s art grew more introspective and intimate in his later years. Other Baroque artists of the era, such as Peter Paul Rubens and Anthony van Dyck, who also explored emotional and reflective subjects in their paintings, mirrored this transition in style in their creations. However, although Caravaggio and his contemporaries shared some commonalities, they treated these issues differently.
The use of light and shadow, or chiaroscuro, by Caravaggio, which was increasingly prominent in his late-period works, was one significant distinction. Deep shadows and vivid highlights have frequently been used in his paintings from this time to evoke dramatic tension and emotional intensity. To depict the emotional complexity and reflection he was investigating in his later works, he used chiaroscuro particularly effectively.
Caravaggio’s use of realism set him apart from his contemporaries in another way. Even though Rubens and van Dyck also explored emotional topics in their artwork, they frequently did so in a more idealized and stylized way. On the other hand, Caravaggio painted figures in a naturalistic and emotionally expressive way, giving his paintings a sense of realism. His paintings were especially effective in capturing the emotional intensity of the subjects he painted because of their authenticity.
Finally, although Caravaggio and his contemporaries explored themes of emotion and introspection, Caravaggio’s style was frequently more direct and visceral. He did not hesitate to convey unpleasant and challenging feelings like loss, misery, and despair. His paintings gained a raw and emotional impact from this directness that was sometimes lacking in the works of his contemporaries.
Life State
Caravaggio experienced an increasing loneliness and decreased health in his later years. He was exiled after his arrest in 1606 and spent much time traveling between Naples, Malta, and Sicily. He struggled to make ends meet and could not obtain orders for his paintings, frequently turning to the kindness of clients and friends.
During this time, Caravaggio’s physical health also deteriorated. He struggled with various physical and mental conditions, including fever, tremors, and perhaps lead poisoning due to using lead-based paint pigments in his artwork. His mental health also declined, and he was reported to be prone to violent outbursts.
Caravaggio’s late-period paintings, which frequently feature scenes of loneliness and melancholy, reflect his troubles. His transition to a more pensive and reflective writing style might have resulted from his problems and the disconnection he experienced from the world around him. Despite these obstacles, Caravaggio persisted in creating solid and expressive works of art that still enthral visitors today.
Comparison of Moods in His Life and Works
The emotional nuance and contemplation of Caravaggio’s later works are well known. During this time, Caravaggio’s interest in expressing his characters’ emotional states grew, and he used his distinctive chiaroscuro technique to produce striking contrasts between light and shade. Two of Caravaggio’s most famous pieces from this period, “The Flagellation of Christ” (1607) and “David with the Head of Goliath” (1609–1610), both emphasize the importance of emotional depth.
In his painting “The Flagellation of Christ,” Figure 9, Caravaggio shows the figure of Christ being whipped by two men. However, Caravaggio prefers highlighting Christ’s emotional distance and detachment rather than the scene’s physical violence. Christ is portrayed as having his back to the viewer, his face hidden by darkness, and his body tormented with agony. The viewer is forced to confront the violence of the image without the solace of an emotional connection to the lead subject, which generates a sense of emotional isolation and separation.
Figure 9. “The Flagellation of Christ” (1607).
In “David with the Head of Goliath,” Figure 10, Caravaggio shows the biblical figure David grasping the severed head of the enormous Goliath. However, Caravaggio stresses the emotional cost of violence and death rather than portraying the scenario with a sense of triumph or success. David is described as having a sense of melancholy and contemplation, with his eyes cast downward and a look of grief. With its lifeless eyes gazing out at the observer, the head of Goliath is also shown with a sense of despair and alienation.
Conclusion
Personal hardships and emotional upheaval colored Michelangelo Merisi da Caravaggio’s life and work, which are depicted in his paintings. We may map a history of his emotional condition as evident in the specifics of his paintings by looking at the stylistic shifts during his three noteworthy phases and comparing them to works by other Baroque artists of the same era.
Caravaggio was one of the most important painters of the Baroque period because of his use of light and shadow, profound realism, and emotional intensity. He is a singular personality in art history because of his ability to depict actual human experience and deep emotion in his paintings, which reflect his challenges. To properly comprehend the intricate emotional landscape that Caravaggio represented in his paintings, additional study of the artist’s life and creative output is required. His works still motivate and test audiences now, and they will do so for many generations.
References
Pericolo, Lorenzo, and David M. Stone, eds. Caravaggio: Reflections and Refractions. Boston: Ashgate Publishing, Ltd, 2014.
Pericolo, Lorenzo. Caravaggio and Pictorial Narrative: Dislocating the Istoria in Early Modern Painting. New York: Academia, 2011.
Stone, David M. “Signature Killer: Caravaggio and the Poetics of Blood.” The Art Bulletin 94, no. 4 (2012): 572-593. Web.
Vezzoli, Caterina. “Art in Support of Life: Caravaggio and the Plague.” Journal of Analytical Psychology 66, no. 3 (2021): 583-604. Web.
Zirpolo, Lilian H. Caravaggio: A Reference Guide to His Life and Works. California: Rowman & Littlefield, 2023.