Michelangelo Merisi (Caravaggio)

There are many Renaissance artists who had a large impact on what was then the

future of art. Each of these artists had some-what interesting lives. Although many

artists of the Renaissance time had interesting lives, Michelangelo Merisi, who was called

Caravaggio, had the most interesting and turbulent life.

Caravaggio, was born in Milan in during the late summer or early autumn of

1571. His parents, Fermo Merisi, and Lucia Aratori, had been married on January 14 of

that same year. He was the first of their four children. For several generations the Mersi

family had lived in the small town of Caravaggio. Caravaggio probably adapted the town

name as his own when he left for Rome(Friedlaender 34 – 38). His father worked as a

builder for the Marchese of Caravaggio. Caravaggio lived with his family in Milan until

the age of five, but by 1576 he had been sent back home to Caravaggio to escape the

menace of the plague in the city. The rest of the family followed the next year, in

October Caravaggio’s father past away(Dict. Of Art 702 704).

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Caravaggio probably had more than an average education. He was taught to

read, write, and do sums. He may also have learned Latin. His artistic education

began that April, 1584, when he became the apprentice for Simone Peterzano.

Simone was a Compitant Milanese painter who was moderately successful, but so

undistinguished that he would hardly be remembered except for his apprentice.

Caravaggio learned how to paint in oil, and fresco, he also learned anatomy and

prospective, and the basics of light, shadow, and space, and the use of color(Moir 21) .

Some of Caravaggio’s experiences in Milan may have be...

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...as brought on by himself(Robb 101-102).

Caravaggio was a man who liked trouble. A man whose life seemed to revolve around two things, painting and causing trouble. Luckily he had the protection of exalted patrons because he needed it, he had many enemies. He was not only protected by these patrons but also generously paid for his artwork. Sometimes for these people, and many times for others, he painted some of the most moving religious pictures, and he will forever be remembered for them. Aside from his violent behavior Caravaggio had many qualities, most having to do with art, but qualities just the same. Then again it could have very well be due to his well-known choice of lifestyle that made him popular and wanted for his artwork by so many. None the less Caravaggio was an extraordinary artist, who will be remembered for much longer than he was alive.