Caravaggio

Revolutionary Baroque painter who transformed European art through dramatic chiaroscuro technique

Michelangelo Merisi da Caravaggio (1571-1610) redefined Western painting through his radical naturalism and mastery of light-dark contrasts. Unlike mannerist painters of his era, Caravaggio used live models from Roman streets to create unprecedented psychological intensity in religious scenes.

His chiaroscuro technique created dramatic tension that influenced Rubens, Rembrandt and Velázquez. The Shield with Medusa (1597) demonstrates his ability to merge classical mythology with visceral realism. Controversial works like The Death of the Virgin (1606) were rejected for showing holy figures as common people.

Caravaggio's turbulent life included murder charges and papal death warrants. His 40+ surviving works remain masterpieces that bridged Renaissance ideals with Baroque emotionality. Modern exhibitions like Beyond Caravaggio (2016) at London's National Gallery continue to celebrate his seismic impact on art history.