O Taste And See

Known today by his birthplace, Caravaggio was born Michelangelo Merisi on Sept. 28, 1573, in Caravaggio, Italy. Considered to be one of Italy’s greatest 17th-century painters, the young artist was inspired by the works of Raphael and Michelangelo. After working for private patrons for several years, he moved to Rome, where he was commissioned to produce paintings for the church of San Luigi dei Francesi. It is here on the lateral walls of the Contarelli Chapel that his famous work and first commission, The Calling of St. Matthew, can be found. It was painted in 1599-1600.

Caravaggio’s art was revolutionary. Scorning the traditional idealized interpretation of religious subjects, he presented the real world—common things and common people painted with passion and empathy. Using models from real life, he placed them in settings that were made dramatic and evocative by his use of the technique called chiaroscuro—the contrasting use of light and dark. Using selective illumination of form out of deep shadow, he brought the viewer face to face with the supernatural in the midst of the natural.

Painting from life directly onto his canvas without an initial drawing, Caravaggio’s passionate, spontaneous style reflected his own life. A controversial and hot-tempered figure, Caravaggio lived recklessly. Frequently seen in public with a drawn sword, he was often involved in fights, was imprisoned on several occasions, and eventually had to flee as a fugitive from Rome. He died lonely and abandoned at the age of 39. Yet his works, having been transformed into purveyors of truth, stand as powerful, lasting reminders of the gifts and graces of God.

To read an excerpt from Juliet Benner’s reflection on The Calling of St. Matthew, please click here.