Among that modern, minority population who are familiar with great paintings and appreciate their beauty and historical significance, the late-sixteenth-century artist Michelangelo Merisi da Caravaggio holds an important position. His revolutionary, true-to-life style amazed and sometimes even shocked his contemporaries. Today, anyone who might happen to stumble upon one of his portraits or Biblical scenes might be more accepting because, unlike abstract works of art, his realism is readily understood. Of course, those people with religiosity minds who are horrified by reality and especially nudity may not be very accepting of his paintings.
A well known Caravaggio’s painting is “The Musicians.” In addition to the great technical skill and beauty of the painting, it also represents an art form most often thought to possess even more power to move human minds and emotions, the music created and sung during his time and many decades thereafter by musicians the likes of which we have not seen in over a century.
Caravaggio was born in Milan in 1571. As a youth, he trained with a student of the famed painter Titian. When 21, Caravaggio went to Rome where he worked for painters ironically often less talented than he. He also took exception to the reigning style of painting religious and aristocratic figures in an idealistic manner. He felt strongly that the figures should be more natural and frequently took models right off the streets, a habit that continued throughout his career, often to the dismay of church authorities and patrons.
By the age of twenty-four, Caravaggio began to sell his own paintings through a dealer who, fortunately, thought them sufficiently worthy to bring them to the attention of the influential Cardinal Francesco del Monte, who then provided Caravaggio with lodging, board, pension, and protection. The cardinal purchased forty works from Caravaggio. Among them was “The Musicians.”
At first glance, the viewer observes that one figure is quite different from the other three: that one individual has the more normal, darker skin tone and perhaps somewhat less refined facial features. That is the young Caravaggio himself. He began a habit of often using his own likeness in paintings even to the point that, in later paintings of David and the defeated giant Goliath, he even portrayed himself, when older, bearded, and even more swarthy, as the severed head. Perhaps Caravaggio’s self-deprecating habit resulted from his realization of his own fiery temper along with some remorse regarding the fights and serious troubles which later plagued his life.
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| The Musicians by Caravaggio |
The other three figures actually were musicians in the employ of the cardinal, and some of them appear in other paintings by Caravaggio. These three musicians undoubtedly were (in polite terms of the time) musici, part of an entourage that the cardinal kept in his service over his lifetime. Apparently the cardinal was generous with Caravaggio; for the figure with the lute, Mario Minniti, also apparently became Caravaggio’s companion while the artist was in residence.
The peaceful scene of this painting belies the dramatic and traumatic life that Caravaggio would lead later. Often having to flee from one city to another because of various public altercations and attacks upon others, one case even resulting in death, he frequently seemed to be able to ingratiate himself with local authorities and receive commissions, that is, until his next troubles forced him to leave. Finally, severely wounded himself from an encounter and after a long convalescence, he attempted to return to Rome; however, he again was arrested on the way. By the time he was released, he had missed his boat with all of his belongings. Attempting to overtake the ship, he arrived at Port’Ercole. Having contracted pneumonia, he died on July 18, 1610, three days before the arrival of the document he so eagerly had awaited, the document from Rome granting him clemency.
Although Caravaggio did not live to see his fortieth birthday, his fame has withstood the test of time. Numerous books have been written about him, and his surviving paintings hold places of honor in various museums and churches. And, should you locate one of his paintings that have disappeared over time, your own fame and fortune surely are assured.
I like this. I would like to know how it relates to you? Did it have a special meaning for you or someone you love? Did it impact your life?
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Throughout my entire life, I have admired and loved all forms of beauty, and this has included art and music. As a consequence, I have made a point of learning about fine arts from many eras and many lands, not just current creations.
DeleteWill.