Renaissance And Baroque Art

Caravaggio

            Caravaggio was an Italian painter born in Milan around 1571. He is considered one of the fathers of the modern painting. His father was called Fermo Merisi, who was an architect decorator and a household administrator. His mother was called Lucia Aratori and she came from one of the Propertified families in the region. In 1576, the family relocated to Caravaggio to escape the plague that devastated Milan. His father died in 1577 and the mother died in 1584 (chapter 17, 292). Caravaggio remained an orphan at 11 years of age and he was apprenticed in Milan. When he later went to Rome, his work became accepted due to the technique of tenebrism he used which involved the use of shadow for emphasizing lighter areas. However, his carrier did not last longer; he killed a man during brawl and left Rome. He later died on 18, July 1610.

            Some of his fiery master pieces included “David with the Head of Goliath” and “the death of the virgin’. His paintings involved a realistic human observation, both emotional and physical state with a dramatic use of lighting. His work was a characteristic of Baroque painting and he placed a formative influence in that period of art (chapter 17, 292). Caravaggio is important as far the history of art is concerned. After the unveiling of his first public commission, many artists from across Europe visited him in Rome to see his work. His painting was seducing to many because of the pictorial and narrative power in the paintings, thus, he made many followers. I chose this particular artist because he is importantly known in the period of Baroque and his styles are still important up to date.

Work cited

Chapter 17, Renaissance and Baroque Europe.