When and where was Michelangelo Merisi da Caravaggio born?
Michelangelo Merisi da Caravaggio arrived in Milan on the 29th of September 1571. His family moved to the town of Caravaggio in 1576 to escape a plague that ravaged their home city.
Questions about Caravaggio
Short answers, pulled from the story.
What artistic technique did Michelangelo Merisi da Caravaggio develop?
Caravaggio developed a radical naturalism called tenebrism that involved transfixing subjects in bright shafts of light while darkening shadows. He worked rapidly using live models without preliminary drawings and preferred working directly onto canvas with oil paints.
Why did Michelangelo Merisi da Caravaggio flee Rome in 1606?
On the 29th of May 1606 he killed Ranuccio Tomassoni during an argument which resulted in an open bounty allowing anyone to carry out the death sentence legally. His patrons could no longer protect him from his wealthy family's outrage after the murder.
Who were the female models used by Michelangelo Merisi da Caravaggio?
His female models included Fillide Melandroni, Anna Bianchini, and Maddalena Antognetti who were all well-known prostitutes. Fillide Melandroni was rumored to be madly in love with him and modeled for several important paintings.
How did Michelangelo Merisi da Caravaggio die on the 18th of July 1610?
Research published in 2018 concluded he died from sepsis caused by Staphylococcus aureus wound sustained in a Naples brawl. Vatican documents released in 2002 support theory that the wealthy Tomassoni family had him hunted down as vendetta for the murder of gangster Ranuccio Tomassoni.