That earliest painting has a distinct mood of innocence about it. The boy's eyes are downcast, absorbed in his handiwork, as might be the eyes of a young artist. With the exception of the lizard bite, the other images feature direct eye contact along with a diminution of anything you might call innocent. And, as masterful as they are, it's hard to overlook their inherent kitsch. True, it's a rather diseased or decaying appreciation of kitsch, but kitsch all the same -- presumably in response to the tastes of certain patrons or contractors. Still, nostalgia is a powerful driver in art as well as everyday life, especially nostalgia for innocence. The "Boy Peeling Fruit" must be at the heart of all of the works show here.
I recall wandering around Rome in 2006 with my wife when we ran across what looked like a small museum (The Borghese Gallery) and deciding to give it a try. I stumbled upon Caravaggio’s “David with the Head of Goliath” and was bowled over.
I trace my path to your Substack through that encounter. Thanks for all you do here! And thanks for the Caravaggio!
That’s so cool. Sadly I never had enough time to fit in a visit to the Borghese on my only visit to Rome. But one day, I hope to go there for that work too.
Caravaggio’s paintings always have that effect of leaving one completely shaken to the core!
I'm always impressed by how some artists can bring life out of what many consider to be an inanimate object: fruit, which holds the seeds to an unknown future.
The basket is something special - I'd never given it attention and then I saw it in Milan. It is perfection, really. And like you said in comments, if only he had taken care of his own lifestyle and lived longer...there would undoubtedly be so many unimaginable masterpieces.
Thanks for showing the rapid progression of Carravagio's work George! 👏 A truth about talent is that the absolute best in any field of endeavor show their promise VERY early, and then just get better from there, often very quickly.
That fruit basket tricked me. For a brief moment, I thought I was looking at a picture! As for the others, he should have taken his own advice. The "boy" pictures were of a genre that was meant to caution against youthful excess.
Great piece as ever George - I've been fortunate to see Basket of Fruit in the Pinacoteca Ambrosiana that's inside the Biblioteca. On the same visit I also had the pleasure of a display of a selection of Leonardo's drawings. The bonus being I was only one of a handful of people who had wandered in to admire these masterpieces. You won't be surprised given you know of my appreciation of Caravaggio that I feel it one of the highlights of seeing his work. By the way I've got my ticket to the NG van Gogh exhibition. I suspect I will not be one of a handful at that one.
Thanks a lot Harry. Yes, I know Caravaggio is one of your favourites too! So I’m glad you enjoyed the read. And what an amazing treat to have that experience with the Leonardo drawings too.
p.s great news about your NG tickets! Funnily enough, I’ve still not been able to get there myself.(Had planned for last weekend, but then informed the day was sold out!)
I've booked well ahead George - early December when I’ll also be doing family ‘Christmas’ visits (I’m spending the day itself by myself back home in the northeast.)
Nice. December will be creeping up before we know it!
I’m sure you already know, but there is also a Monet exhibition opening at the Courtauld this week which I believe is still on display into December too. So that might be worth a detour if you have any extra time around family visits.
(I’m hopefully heading to it in the coming few weeks, booking permitting of course!)
One of my top 3 artists, I love his work. There is a world of its own in the flower vase, of the boy and lizard, it alone is enough to captivate a viewer. I have always felt the Bacchus paintings, interesting but far from his greatest works as you mentioned. They do however show his emerging style of “Carasquillo” and still life prowess.
What do you suppose was going on in this young man’s life to have him turn away from the straight path into something that led to his death? So eerie. Such an unwelcome end to his brilliant career. How much do you think that we lost over his trysts or whatever it was that happened?
That’s a great question and would take me too long to elaborate fully here.
But in short - a big factor was that he was a highly sensitive man living in quite violent times, and without much in the way of positive influences to keep him on the straight and narrow.
So in that kind of scenario, one can end up getting involved in all manner of negative situations simply through trying to not become a victim. (Although like I said, there is much more to his life and character that were contributing factors too. )
One thing we can say for certain is that we lost one of the greatest painters of all time far too young. Who knows what he could have achieved had he lived for as long as his namesake Michelangelo Buonarotti, who made it to 89!
This was so interesting to learn of Caravaggio,s work.
The Young Sick Bacchus caught my attention in many ways. I noticed how his muscular structure almost looked as if it were a photograph. The eyes are so real looking. The fabrics folds and even the material of bow shows his ability to be masterful. The fruit so very realistic. I have to say I really enjoy the bonus still life of the basket of fruit. There is so much detail not only in the fruit but also the leaves as well as the weaving of the basket.
That earliest painting has a distinct mood of innocence about it. The boy's eyes are downcast, absorbed in his handiwork, as might be the eyes of a young artist. With the exception of the lizard bite, the other images feature direct eye contact along with a diminution of anything you might call innocent. And, as masterful as they are, it's hard to overlook their inherent kitsch. True, it's a rather diseased or decaying appreciation of kitsch, but kitsch all the same -- presumably in response to the tastes of certain patrons or contractors. Still, nostalgia is a powerful driver in art as well as everyday life, especially nostalgia for innocence. The "Boy Peeling Fruit" must be at the heart of all of the works show here.
I recall wandering around Rome in 2006 with my wife when we ran across what looked like a small museum (The Borghese Gallery) and deciding to give it a try. I stumbled upon Caravaggio’s “David with the Head of Goliath” and was bowled over.
I trace my path to your Substack through that encounter. Thanks for all you do here! And thanks for the Caravaggio!
That’s so cool. Sadly I never had enough time to fit in a visit to the Borghese on my only visit to Rome. But one day, I hope to go there for that work too.
Caravaggio’s paintings always have that effect of leaving one completely shaken to the core!
I'm always impressed by how some artists can bring life out of what many consider to be an inanimate object: fruit, which holds the seeds to an unknown future.
The basket is something special - I'd never given it attention and then I saw it in Milan. It is perfection, really. And like you said in comments, if only he had taken care of his own lifestyle and lived longer...there would undoubtedly be so many unimaginable masterpieces.
Thanks for showing the rapid progression of Carravagio's work George! 👏 A truth about talent is that the absolute best in any field of endeavor show their promise VERY early, and then just get better from there, often very quickly.
I like his still-life the best.
Glad to know you enjoyed it. Thanks for reading.
That fruit basket tricked me. For a brief moment, I thought I was looking at a picture! As for the others, he should have taken his own advice. The "boy" pictures were of a genre that was meant to caution against youthful excess.
Good point. If only he had cultivated his own life with the same care and attention he gave to his paintings!
There is something strangely poetic about a man who was such a sinner creating some of the most beautiful and poignant religious art.
I totally agree. It’s like he himself embodied his own chiaroscuro art style - i.e he was a man of the darkest shadows, and the brightest lights too.
Great piece as ever George - I've been fortunate to see Basket of Fruit in the Pinacoteca Ambrosiana that's inside the Biblioteca. On the same visit I also had the pleasure of a display of a selection of Leonardo's drawings. The bonus being I was only one of a handful of people who had wandered in to admire these masterpieces. You won't be surprised given you know of my appreciation of Caravaggio that I feel it one of the highlights of seeing his work. By the way I've got my ticket to the NG van Gogh exhibition. I suspect I will not be one of a handful at that one.
Thanks a lot Harry. Yes, I know Caravaggio is one of your favourites too! So I’m glad you enjoyed the read. And what an amazing treat to have that experience with the Leonardo drawings too.
p.s great news about your NG tickets! Funnily enough, I’ve still not been able to get there myself.(Had planned for last weekend, but then informed the day was sold out!)
I've booked well ahead George - early December when I’ll also be doing family ‘Christmas’ visits (I’m spending the day itself by myself back home in the northeast.)
Nice. December will be creeping up before we know it!
I’m sure you already know, but there is also a Monet exhibition opening at the Courtauld this week which I believe is still on display into December too. So that might be worth a detour if you have any extra time around family visits.
(I’m hopefully heading to it in the coming few weeks, booking permitting of course!)
One of my top 3 artists, I love his work. There is a world of its own in the flower vase, of the boy and lizard, it alone is enough to captivate a viewer. I have always felt the Bacchus paintings, interesting but far from his greatest works as you mentioned. They do however show his emerging style of “Carasquillo” and still life prowess.
What do you suppose was going on in this young man’s life to have him turn away from the straight path into something that led to his death? So eerie. Such an unwelcome end to his brilliant career. How much do you think that we lost over his trysts or whatever it was that happened?
That’s a great question and would take me too long to elaborate fully here.
But in short - a big factor was that he was a highly sensitive man living in quite violent times, and without much in the way of positive influences to keep him on the straight and narrow.
So in that kind of scenario, one can end up getting involved in all manner of negative situations simply through trying to not become a victim. (Although like I said, there is much more to his life and character that were contributing factors too. )
One thing we can say for certain is that we lost one of the greatest painters of all time far too young. Who knows what he could have achieved had he lived for as long as his namesake Michelangelo Buonarotti, who made it to 89!
This was so interesting to learn of Caravaggio,s work.
The Young Sick Bacchus caught my attention in many ways. I noticed how his muscular structure almost looked as if it were a photograph. The eyes are so real looking. The fabrics folds and even the material of bow shows his ability to be masterful. The fruit so very realistic. I have to say I really enjoy the bonus still life of the basket of fruit. There is so much detail not only in the fruit but also the leaves as well as the weaving of the basket.
I was fascinated by Caravaggio in school and loved his artwork. Thank you for this essay about him.
Simply beautiful work! I envy his ability to paint realistic fabric, something I struggle to do in my own oil paintings.
Absolutely, Fabrics are a really tough thing to paint - so it’s interesting you pick up on that detail too as an artist.
you know your stuff