黑料不打烊

Two rarely loaned paintings by Caravaggio join works by his devoted followers in this intimate exhibition highlighting both the grand spectacle and intense influence of Caravaggio鈥檚 extraordinary work.

Whether for his large dramatic canvases or his larger-than-life persona, the name Caravaggio evokes images of turmoil and violence, both sacred and profane. Born in Milan in 1571, Michelangelo Merisi da Caravaggio entered the robust Roman art scene around 1592 and, over the next 14 years, developed an original and captivating painting style that attracted eminent patrons and passionate followers, thrusting him into the public eye. The artist became equally known for his wild behavior; a street brawler, Caravaggio was familiar with the shady underworld of taverns and their clientele, whom he frequently depicted in his work.

Caravaggio鈥檚 followers, known as the Caravaggisti, embraced the stylis颅tic hallmarks of the painter鈥檚 intensely naturalistic work. Like their trailblazing idol, they used models from real life, boldly depicting their quirks and flaws in dynamic compositions whose turbulent movement was revealed in dramatic extremes of light and dark. The themes and individual artistic approaches of Caravaggisti often depended on their direct or indirect relationships to Caravaggio鈥攕ome knew the artist personally, while others knew him only through his work.

The artist ultimately fled Rome in 1606 to escape a death sentence for murdering a man in a street fight. He spent the rest of his short career working in Naples, Sicily, and Malta before his death in 1610. Much like the artist鈥檚 life, the taste for Caravaggism burned bright but fast: by the mid-17th century, painters in Rome had moved on to new styles. 

This focused installation, a rare opportunity to see Caravaggio鈥檚 works in person, showcases the captivating drama of his artistic vision and the magnitude of his influence on artists like Baglione, Buoneri, and Manfredi鈥攂oth of which forever altered the narrative power of painting.