Caravaggio : Importance and Influence
Caravaggio: Importance and Influence
With the style’s beginnings in Rome, Italy, Baroque art’s influence swept over Europe from the early sixteen hundreds to the mid eighteenth century. It was in Rome where the original masters of the style began the story of Baroque art. Perhaps some of the style’s earliest beginnings can be attributed to the great artist Michelangelo Merisi da Caravaggio. The artist’s career was impactful but short lived, lasting approximately 15 years. Caravaggio’s work was hugely influential to artists that came after him due to his radical behavior, gritty naturalism, use of psychological realism, and use of light and shadow (Caravaggio 's Impact).
Although seeing great success through his artwork in Rome, Caravaggio handled his triumphs poorly. The artist was known to be quick tempered and often jailed for the brawls he took part in. Supposedly killing a man during an argument, Caravaggio had to flee the authorities for several years of his life. The artist spent his final years fleeing from Rome to Naples, to Malta, and to Sicily. An early published article detailing his life states that “after a fortnight 's work he will swagger about for a month or two with a sword at his side and a servant following him, from one ball-court to the next, ever ready to engage in a fight or an argument, so that it is most awkward to get along with him” (Discovering).
Although remembered for his magnificently rebellious persona, Caravaggio’s true influence was attributed to his artistic genius. He was seeking ‘truth’ in his artwork. Pure unadulterated honesty would develop into the natural realism that he was seeking. By using every day common people as his models, Caravaggio would achieve this. He disregarded the use of classical models and the depiction of “ideal beauty”; he was after the gritty normality of everyday life (Oxford).
Consider Caravaggio’s painting of St. Peter; it depicts three apostles staring at Jesus, all looking un-remarkable.
With the style’s beginnings in Rome, Italy, Baroque art’s influence swept over Europe from the early sixteen hundreds to the mid eighteenth century. It was in Rome where the original masters of the style began the story of Baroque art. Perhaps some of the style’s earliest beginnings can be attributed to the great artist Michelangelo Merisi da Caravaggio. The artist’s career was impactful but short lived, lasting approximately 15 years. Caravaggio’s work was hugely influential to artists that came after him due to his radical behavior, gritty naturalism, use of psychological realism, and use of light and shadow (Caravaggio 's Impact).
Although seeing great success through his artwork in Rome, Caravaggio handled his triumphs poorly. The artist was known to be quick tempered and often jailed for the brawls he took part in. Supposedly killing a man during an argument, Caravaggio had to flee the authorities for several years of his life. The artist spent his final years fleeing from Rome to Naples, to Malta, and to Sicily. An early published article detailing his life states that “after a fortnight 's work he will swagger about for a month or two with a sword at his side and a servant following him, from one ball-court to the next, ever ready to engage in a fight or an argument, so that it is most awkward to get along with him” (Discovering).
Although remembered for his magnificently rebellious persona, Caravaggio’s true influence was attributed to his artistic genius. He was seeking ‘truth’ in his artwork. Pure unadulterated honesty would develop into the natural realism that he was seeking. By using every day common people as his models, Caravaggio would achieve this. He disregarded the use of classical models and the depiction of “ideal beauty”; he was after the gritty normality of everyday life (Oxford).
Consider Caravaggio’s painting of St. Peter; it depicts three apostles staring at Jesus, all looking un-remarkable.
Cited: Land, Affecting Art Even in Distant Holland." Baltimore Sun. N.p., 11 Jan. 1998. http://articles.baltimoresun.com/1998-01-11/features/1998011077_1_caravaggio-michelangelo-merisi-painting "Caravaggista." Caravaggista RSS "Georges De La Tour." Wikipedia. Wikimedia Foundation, 21 Feb. 2013. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Georges_de_La_Tour "Guido Reni." Wikipedia "Oxford Art Online." Benezit: Thematic Guide in. N.p., 2007. http://www.oxfordartonline.com/public/book/oao_benz "Rembrandt Van Rijn (Dutch Artist)." Encyclopedia Britannica Online