Caravaggio .....................................................................................

Lecture 29

We have spoken of the artistic reform initiated by the Carracci

Academy in Bologna, a reaction against Mannerist arti¿ ce and a

return to realism. We have spoken also about one the most signi¿ cant

social reforms of the 16th century—the Protestant Reformation.

We have not had occasion to do more than mention the Catholic

Counter-Reformation that followed the Protestant revolt.

I

n this lecture, we focus on a single artist of the Catholic Counter-
Reformation, Caravaggio. BrieÀ y outlining his scandalous life, we will
see why critics are confounded by his sexual undertones as well as his
profound reverence for sacred subjects. In addition, we will look at the
treatment of light and dark in many of his paintings. We will explore some of
Caravaggio’s individual works, as well as his commissions for two chapels.

We have discussed the artistic reform initiated by the Carracci Academy,
a reaction against Mannerist arti¿ ce and a return to greater realism.
We have also discussed a signi¿ cant religious and social reform of the
16 th century, the Protestant Reformation. Now, we must mention the
Catholic Counter-Reformation.

The Catholic Counter-Reformation, following the Protestant revolt, began
with the Council of Trent that convened in 1545 and continued to meet
sporadically over a 20-year period. The council was concerned with liturgical
and bureaucratic reform and stemming the À ood of converts to Lutheran,
Calvinist, and other Protestant sects. Often the council turned its attention to
the role of art and architecture in an attempt to recover the Church’s power
and wealth. Many historians prefer to speak of Counter-Reformation art only
when speaking of post-Trentine art of the last third of the 16th century. I apply
it also to much art of the 17th century. The art, however, is more important
than the label itself.

Michelangelo Merisi da Caravaggio (1571–1610) was probably born
in Milan, but he grew up in Caravaggio, near Milan. He is known by the