#ArtHistory Caravaggio

St Jerôme écrivant (1607 …excellent example of chiaroscuro)

MAY

by José Frèches

Finish date: 22 May 2022
Genre: Nonfiction
Rating: A+++
Review:

How to describe Caravaggio?
Badass ….but brilliant.
This man was ready to duel, fight and
even kill when he had to.
That is not what you would expect from such a great painter.
Caravaggio had the good fortune to be protected by an Italian Duke in Italy …so he could continue with his painting while the police were held at bay.

Good news:  it’s ALL good news…..!!
But of course….not many people care about Caravaggio’s crime sheet
…it is all about the art, unforgettable images he has left us:
Saints, sinners, crucifixions, orgies, portraits, beheadings, lots of cupids and angels with impressive wings!

Caravaggio….
— he used cinematic realism (Judith et Holopherne)

— he used every day people as models and even his
prostitute girlfriend Fillide Melandroni to pose for
Saints! (Sainte Catherine d’Alexandre, La Conversion de Madeleine)

— he gave us an auto-portrait of a young Caravaggio! (Bacchus malade)

— he gave us a masterclass on structure in a painting….the underlying, concealed formula according to which a work of art is constructed.
In La Déposition du Christ we see a cavalcade of mourners in triangular form – 3 different women…each with a unique expression of grief an remarkably…this horrific scene of Christ ’s death is bloodless!
PS: the face of Nicodemus (supporting Christ’s legs) is Michelangelo!

— he used contrast. In Le Cournonnement and La Flagellation of Christ notice the sereneness and calm flowing from Christ’s body in contrast to the violence depicted by the jailers.

— The most famous characteristic of Caravaggio is his use of chiaroscuro
….the dramatic use of light distribution to create brilliant reflections and create dark masses to enhance somber scene. (La Arrestation)

Personal:
I just loved this book! It is a small compact (128 pg) analysis of Caravaggio’s artistic career from his early struggle to make a living, through his first public commissions in Rome, and his growing celebrity status. This book is in French but

….if you could look for Caravaggio Complete Works  by Sebastian Schütze (no photo) you won’t be disappointed. The complete works is an expensive book…so the library would be your best bet! (ISBN: 9783836587969