Caravaggio’s work is defined by its intense psychological realism and a mastery of light that changed the course of Western art.
Michelangelo Merisi da Caravaggio (1571–1610) was a revolutionary Italian painter who became the formative influence of the Baroque period. Known for his "radical naturalism," he abandoned the idealized forms of the Renaissance in favor of visceral realism, often using people from the streets—including beggars and prostitutes—as models for his religious figures. His life was as dramatic as his art, marked by violent brawls, a murder conviction, and a restless flight across Italy, Malta, and Sicily. Artistic Innovation and Techniques 1. Caravaggio