Michelangelo and Caravaggio Comparative
Comparative Essay
Michelangelo and Caravaggio were possibly the two most renowned painters during the Renaissance period. Both Renaissance artists painted religious scenes, approaching their artworks in diverse ways according to their personal framework and attitudes. Where Michelangelo’s tortured soul was portrayed directly onto his paintings, Caravaggio’s almost arrogant attitude and need for action and drama resulted in his dark, melodramatic pieces.
Both artists were working on commissions from the church; consequently they both had religious subject matters. However, where Michelangelo painted religious figures, referencing characters from Greek and Roman mythology, Caravaggio drew people from reality. From criminals and prostitutes to the poor, Caravaggio’s works were confronting, people were not used to locals used as divine figures, and therefore there was “no reference to divine beauty”.
Caravaggio and Michelangelo’s techniques differed dramatically. Most artists working during the Baroque period earned their income through important fresco commands in churches or other public places, Michelangelo being a key example of this. Caravaggio, on the other hand, refused to paint in fresco and only painted oil on canvas for his entire career. Caravaggio focused on chiaroscuro, highlighting the light and dark of his paintings. He chose a dramatic, intense style. Michelangelo’s prior experience as a sculptor, managed to depict three dimensional figures in his artworks. He executed rough preliminary drawings on the canvas before painting in order to be certain of composition and proportions. Nevertheless, Caravaggio also chose to portray realistic figures, only deciding to paint straight onto the canvas rather than initial sketches.
Both artists suffered devastating losses of both or one of their parents, sparking their motivation and personality from a young age. Michelangelo was a tortured soul who strove for perfection; he believed that “beauty of man
Michelangelo and Caravaggio were possibly the two most renowned painters during the Renaissance period. Both Renaissance artists painted religious scenes, approaching their artworks in diverse ways according to their personal framework and attitudes. Where Michelangelo’s tortured soul was portrayed directly onto his paintings, Caravaggio’s almost arrogant attitude and need for action and drama resulted in his dark, melodramatic pieces.
Both artists were working on commissions from the church; consequently they both had religious subject matters. However, where Michelangelo painted religious figures, referencing characters from Greek and Roman mythology, Caravaggio drew people from reality. From criminals and prostitutes to the poor, Caravaggio’s works were confronting, people were not used to locals used as divine figures, and therefore there was “no reference to divine beauty”.
Caravaggio and Michelangelo’s techniques differed dramatically. Most artists working during the Baroque period earned their income through important fresco commands in churches or other public places, Michelangelo being a key example of this. Caravaggio, on the other hand, refused to paint in fresco and only painted oil on canvas for his entire career. Caravaggio focused on chiaroscuro, highlighting the light and dark of his paintings. He chose a dramatic, intense style. Michelangelo’s prior experience as a sculptor, managed to depict three dimensional figures in his artworks. He executed rough preliminary drawings on the canvas before painting in order to be certain of composition and proportions. Nevertheless, Caravaggio also chose to portray realistic figures, only deciding to paint straight onto the canvas rather than initial sketches.
Both artists suffered devastating losses of both or one of their parents, sparking their motivation and personality from a young age. Michelangelo was a tortured soul who strove for perfection; he believed that “beauty of man