Caravaggio - Heritage of a Revolutionary

Michelangelo da Caravaggio, Boy with a Basket of Fruit
Galleria Borghese, Rome

Caravaggio - Heritage of a Revolutionary
A film by Massimo Magri (2009)
Running time: 51:57

Michelangelo Merisi (1571-1610) left his birth town of Caravaggio in the north of Italy to study as an apprentice in nearby Milan. In 1593 he moved to Rome, impatient to use his talents on the biggest stage possible.

Caravaggio's approach to painting was unconventional. He avoided the standard method of making copies of old sculptures and instead took the more direct approach of painting directly onto canvas without drawing first. He also used people from the street as his models. His dramatic painting was enhanced with intense and theatrical lighting.

Michelangelo Merisi caused a revolution whose consequences are still felt today. He is looked at, studied and taken up by cineastes and photographers, he is re-interpreted by contemporary artists. This documentary tries to tell of the life, the work, the contradictions and the modernity of a 'still' relevant great artist. He comes back to live beside us as an unavoidable reference for producers of images. Religious painter, violent and lawless Bohemian; in the service of authority and incapable of betraying his own inspiration.

Caravaggio - Heritage of a Revolutionary - Part I/III



Caravaggio - Heritage of a Revolutionary - Part II/III



Caravaggio - Heritage of a Revolutionary - Part III/III

Michelangelo da Caravaggio, David with the Head of Goliath
Galleria Borghese, Rome

Caravaggio - The Power of Art

a film by Simon Schama for the BBC

Running time: 59:26

Caravaggio's fate was sealed when in 1606 he killed a man in a duel. He fled to Naples where he attempted to paint his way out of trouble, he became a Knight, but was then imprisoned in Malta and then finally he moved to Sicily. He was pardoned for murder in 1610, but he died of a fever attempting to return to Rome.

Simon Schama on Caravaggio:

"In Caravaggio's time it was believed that artists were given their talent by God to bring beauty to the world and to put mortal creatures in touch with their higher selves or souls. Caravaggio never did anything the way it was supposed to be done.

In this painting of the victory of virtue over evil it's supposed to be David who is the centre of attention, but have you ever seen a less jubilant victory? On his sword is inscribed "Humilitus Occideit Superbium", that is, humility conquers pride. This is the battle that has been fought out inside Caravaggio's head between the two sides of the painter that are portrayed here.

For me the power of Caravaggio's art is the power of truth, not least about ourselves. If we are ever to hope for redemption we have to begin with the recognition that in all of us the Goliath competes with the David."

The Power of Art: Caravaggio - Part I/VII

The Power of Art: Caravaggio - Part II/VII
The Power of Art: Caravaggio - Part III/VII
The Power of Art: Caravaggio - Part IV/VII
The Power of Art: Caravaggio - Part V/VII
The Power of Art: Caravaggio - Part VI/VII
The Power of Art: Caravaggio - Part VII/VII

Also, the Caravaggio exhibition in Florence (Caravaggio and the Caravaggeschi) has been extended until January 9, 2011.

Review of the exhibition by Alexandra Korey in TuscanyArts