Caravaggio in Rome
Wandering around Rome and dropping into churches where you can find extraordinary artworks, got me to thinking I should track down every Caravaggio in Rome. Doubtless been done numerous times before, but here is my attempt, together with a little bit of history about each painting.
Caravaggio in Rome
So far I have located 29 paintings (including one fresco) in Rome, and most are identified on the map below. I have kept paintings at each location together so click on the panels on the location map below.
I would like to make it clear from the beginning that the majority of the information I have set out here comes from a variety of sources, including Wikipedia, so you can (like most of Wikipedia) take it for granted that some of it might be inaccurate or perhaps conjecture rather than fact. However, I have managed to find some interesting thoughts on the subject and composition of many of the works.
The pics are all either mine or public domain reproductions.
First, just a little about the style of Caravaggio:
His style of tenebrism, where form emerges from a dark background with usually one point of breaking light (with Caravaggio, light always represents salvation), may have been the influence of the preachings of Filippo Neri. Neri was a Counter Reformation priest who tried to explain the Bible by making the subjects more understandable and meaningful. He did his by including members of the lowest class of society so as to appeal to the majority of society. This idea pushed Caravaggio to use dramatic effects to make the characters more theatrical.
On the last page I have set out a little of his life and times.
So, where in Rome are they?
Here is a map of the Caravaggio works in and around Rome that the public have access to. At any given time, some pieces may be away on loan or restoration, but this is where their 'home' is.
Click on the numbers for detail:
