Caravaggio the painter accessible tour – Rome

“Michelangelo Merisi”, mostly known as “Caravaggio”, was active between sixteenth and seventeenth century Italy. At that time, Italian painters were taught to imitate classical art and the work of other masters of the renaissance. Caravaggio, however, always painted live models, so the subjects of his paintings all have natural and realistic poses. One other typical characteristic of Caravaggio’s style is the use of light. The subjects of his paintings are illuminated in front of dark backgrounds, creating a sense of depth and contrast. Caravaggio had quite a troubled life. He was often arrested for taking part in brawls, and after killing a man he had to run away from Milan, where he lived. When the law caught up with him in Rome, he went off the grid with the help of a nobleman friend of his.

The Caravaggio accessible tour will take you to the accessible church of “San Luigi dei Francesi”, where you will see three paintings by Caravaggio dedicated to “Saint Matthew”. “The Martyrdom of Saint Matthew” shows the Saint being killed by a soldier. The expressive faces of the subjects and the sharp shadows create a dramatic atmosphere. In “The Inspiration of Saint Matthew” you can see the saint listening to an angel talking above him. “The Calling of Saint Matthew” shows the first meeting between Saint Matthew and Jesus, and it is one of the best examples of Caravaggio’s use of light in his paintings.

In the accessible church of “Sant’Agostino” you will see “The Madonna of Loreto”, also known as “The Pilgrim’s Madonna”. In this painting you can see the “Virgin Mary” appearing in front of two “pilgrims” while she holds “baby Jesus” in her arms. The pilgrims are barefoot and dressed in poor clothes, while the Virgin Mary does not look like a heavenly figure, but like a normal woman you could meet on the street. The woman who served as a model for the Madonna was actually a well-known prostitute of the time, who often posed for Caravaggio. This down to earth depiction of the Virgin Mary was very unusual for the time, so this painting was considered somewhat controversial.

The Caravaggio accessible tour continues to the accessible basilica of “Santa Maria del Popolo”. Here you will be able to see another painting by Caravaggio, “The Crucifixion of Saint Peter”. This painting shows three men lifting the cross, crucifying Saint Peter upside down. In this realistic painting the three men look like simple workers, and the scene has a mundane atmosphere. The stark shadows of this painting make the figures look three-dimensional, and the composition of the scene makes it easy to read and admire.

The Caravaggio accessible tour is perfect for art lovers who also want to visit some of the most beautiful accessible churches in Rome. Come see the work of “Caravaggio”, an Italian painter whose story is surrounded by darkness and mystery.