The Turbulent Life Of Caravaggio: Art, Violence, And Exile

The Baroque artist Caravaggio is famous for gruesome paintings like “Judith Beheading Holofernes." Yet it wasn’t only his paintings that were brutal and violent. In the early 17th century, Caravaggio went to trial at least 11 times for things like writing libelous poems, throwing a plate of artichokes at a waiter, and assaulting people with swords. He eventually fled Rome to escape punishment for killing a man and died in exile under mysterious circumstances.

Early Life and Rise to Fame

Caravaggio was born as Michelangelo Merisi in Italy in 1571. After losing both of his parents to the plague when he was a child, he moved to Rome and started selling his own paintings around 1595. His talent quickly gained recognition, but it wasn't just his art that made headlines—his tumultuous lifestyle did too.

As his profile grew over the next several years, he became notorious for his drinking, gambling, sword-carrying, and brawling. Between 1598 and 1601, he faced several legal issues, including arrests for carrying a sword without a permit, beating a man with a stick, and attacking another man with a sword. These incidents often occurred in the early hours, highlighting his reckless behavior.

Conflict with Rivals

Around that time, he developed a turbulent relationship with Giovanni Baglione, a rival painter. Baglione accused Caravaggio of hiring assassins to kill him, which escalated their rivalry to the courts. In 1603, Baglione took Caravaggio to court for libel, stemming from satirical poems Caravaggio had circulated about Baglione’s work.

Though it may seem trivial today, Caravaggio's poems were akin to 17th-century social media harassment. They were designed to humiliate Baglione and showed just how far their rivalry had gone. Unfortunately for Caravaggio, Baglione won the case, leading to a two-week prison sentence for the artist.

Continued Legal Troubles

Over the next few years, Caravaggio’s behavior landed him in court multiple times for offenses ranging from throwing a plate of artichokes in a waiter’s face to carrying a sword and dagger without a permit. His confrontational nature often put him at odds with the law, resulting in numerous arrests and even imprisonment for throwing stones at policemen and engaging in public disturbances.

By late 1605, his landlady seized his furniture due to unpaid rent, and he had a bizarre incident where he apparently wounded himself by falling on his own sword. This pattern of violence and chaos in his life only intensified as he became embroiled in a life-altering conflict.

The Fatal Encounter

Then, in May 1606, Caravaggio killed a man named Ranuccio Tomassoni. Historians have long speculated that the fight originated over a tennis match, but further investigations suggest it might have been over a woman. A documentary by art historian Andrew Graham-Dixon revealed that Caravaggio may have tried to castrate Tomassoni during the altercation, linking the fight to a romantic rivalry.

Such violence was not uncommon in Roman street fights, where specific wounds held significant meaning. The barber surgeon's report confirmed that Tomassoni bled out through a crucial artery, suggesting the fight escalated beyond a mere quarrel. As a result, the pope issued a death sentence against Caravaggio, forcing him to flee Rome in order to survive.

Life in Exile

In exile, Caravaggio continued his life of painting and fighting. In 1608, while still a wanted man in Rome, he assaulted one of the highest-ranking knights in Malta, Fra Giovanni Rodomonte Roero. This incident led to another prison sentence, but Caravaggio managed to escape to Naples, where he faced further confrontations that disfigured his face.

As Caravaggio attempted to return to Rome in 1610, he sought a papal pardon for his death sentence. However, his journey was cut short when he died at the young age of 38 in the town of Porto Ercole. The cause of his death remains uncertain, with theories ranging from syphilis to lead poisoning from paint.

The Legacy of Caravaggio

Despite his violent life and untimely death, Caravaggio's artistic legacy remains influential. His works are celebrated for their dramatic use of light and realism, impacting generations of artists that followed. Ironically, one of the first biographies written about him after his death came from Giovanni Baglione, the rival whose career he had sought to undermine.

The chaotic life of Caravaggio serves as a reminder of the fine line between genius and madness. His story intrigues art lovers and historians alike, illustrating the complexities of a man whose talent was overshadowed by his tumultuous lifestyle.

In conclusion, Caravaggio's life was filled with violence, passion, and artistry, making him one of the most fascinating figures of the Baroque period. His legacy endures, inviting us to explore the darker sides of creativity and the personal struggles that can accompany artistic brilliance.