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Caravaggio Facts & Worksheets

Michelangelo Merisi da Caravaggio, known mononymously as Caravaggio, was an Italian painter active in Rome for most of his artistic life. Art experts describe his works as blending a realistic study of the human condition, both physical and emotional, with a dramatic use of light that influenced Baroque painting.

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Michelangelo Merisi da Caravaggio, known mononymously as Caravaggio, was an Italian painter active in Rome for most of his artistic life. He spent the last four years of his life moving between Naples, Malta, and Sicily before dying. Art experts describe his works as blending a realistic study of the human condition, both physical and emotional, with a dramatic use of light that influenced Baroque painting. 

See the fact file below for more information about Caravaggio or you can download our 29-page Carvaggio worksheet pack to utilize within the classroom or home environment.

Key Facts & Information

BECOMING CARAVAGGIO

  • Caravaggio, an influential Italian artist of the late Mannerist period, diverged from the conventional elegance of his peers by portraying biblical stories as gritty and dramatic scenes. 
  • He brought a modern, visceral quality to his work, often using live models in contemporary attire and highlighting the humble humanity of religious figures. 
  • Caravaggio’s innovative chiaroscuro technique, emphasizing stark light and dark contrasts, profoundly impacted Western art. 
  • Despite his artistic brilliance, his tumultuous personal life, marked by murder and violence, overshadowed his reputation. 
  • His later years were spent as a fugitive, contributing to his image as an outsider and rebel. 
  • While his volatile character and rumored homosexuality have added to his legend, in reality, he was a more nuanced and intellectually ambitious artist than popular myths suggest. 
  • Archival research reveals a logic behind his seemingly impulsive actions, painting a more complex picture of Caravaggio’s life and legacy.

TRAGIC CHILDHOOD

  • Caravaggio, born Michelangelo Merisi, likely in the autumn of 1571 in Caravaggio, Italy, was the first child of Fermo Merisi and Lucia Aratori. His family had connections to local nobility through his mother’s side, notably with the powerful Sforza and Colonna families.
  • His early life was divided between Caravaggio and Milan, where his father worked as a stonemason. 
  • Tragedy struck when the bubonic plague claimed the lives of several family members, leaving Caravaggio orphaned by age six. 
  • He signed an apprenticeship contract with Simone Peterzano in 1584 but likely should have paid more attention to formal studies, instead focusing on swordsmanship and getting into trouble with the law. 
  • These tumultuous events likely contributed to Caravaggio’s fiery temperament and sense of abandonment from an early age.

CARAVAGGIO EARLY INFLUENCES

  • Caravaggio’s early influences were profoundly shaped by the Counter-Reformation atmosphere of Milan under Archbishop Charles Borromeo. 
  • Borromeo’s emphasis on simplicity, poverty, and direct religious experience profoundly impacted Caravaggio’s artistic sensibilities. 
  • He drew inspiration from the visceral realism of folk art traditions like the sacro monte at Varallo, translating its crude sculptural realism into his own more subtle yet immediate painting style. 
  • Borromeo’s austere palette and focus on humility resonated in Caravaggio’s work, evident in his compositions within confined spaces and his emphasis on poverty as a Christian virtue.
  • Caravaggio may have visited Venice, influenced by the colors of Giorgione and the dramatic tenebrism of Titian and Tintoretto.
  • While there’s no concrete evidence, his master Peterzano, who trained in Venice, might have encouraged such a trip.
  • Caravaggio left Lombardy in 1592 under unclear circumstances, possibly linked to a violent incident involving the murder of a policeman. 
  • This event foreshadowed his tumultuous career marked by frequent troubles with the law.

FIRST APPRENTICESHIPS IN ROME, PUCCI, CESARI, AND PETRIGIANA

  • In pursuit of work, Caravaggio traveled to Rome during a period of artistic fervor under Pope Clement VIII. 
  • Rome housed around 2,000 artists in a highly competitive environment with intense feuds and vendettas. 
  • Caravaggio’s confrontations and fights were part of this broader pattern of violence, reflecting the opportunistic and socially fluid nature of the city. 
  • During his early years in Rome, Caravaggio lived with various individuals facing unsettled circumstances, including Lorenzo Siciliano and the priest Pandolfo Pucci. 
  • He worked in the studios of painters such as Antiveduto Grammatica and Giuseppe Cesari, where he painted decorative borders and embellishments. 
  • Caravaggio’s resentment of these limitations led him to Prospero Orsi.
  • His time with Cesari ended with an accident involving a horse kick, leading to hospitalization. 
  • Subsequently, he lodged with Monsignor Fatin Petrigiani and met Prospero Orsi, who encouraged him to paint for the market.
  • During this period, Caravaggio created notable works like “Boy with a Basket of Fruit” and “Self-Portrait as Bacchus.” 
  • These pieces may have marked his departure from Cesari’s workshop, showcasing his ability to tackle more ambitious subjects. 
  • Around 1595, Caravaggio painted a dramatic work depicting a boy bitten by a lizard, potentially serving as a cautionary tale about the consequences of lascivious behavior.

THE PATRONAGE OF CARDINAL DEL MONTE OF CARAVAGGIO

  • In the mid-1590s, Caravaggio faced financial difficulties in Rome and sought support from picture dealers.
  • His partnership with Costantino Spata led to the attention of Francesco Cardinal Maria del Monte, a prominent art collector, who not only purchased Caravaggio’s innovative works like “The Cardsharps” and “The Gypsy Fortune Teller” but also provided him with accommodation, encouragement, and commissions.
  • Del Monte, a significant music patron, influenced the shift from medieval polyphony to monody and supported emerging musical forms like opera. 
  • Caravaggio’s “The Musicians” reflected Del Monte’s experimental musical tastes, marking a period of soft and lyrical works.
  • Encouraged by del Monte, Caravaggio produced intriguing paintings for the influential Medici family of Florence in the late 1590s. 
  • “Bacchus” and “Head of the Medusa” showcased subtle and playful qualities. While “Bacchus” initially suggested a male prostitute, closer inspection revealed symbolic attributes hinting at Bacchus as a prefiguration of Christ. 
  • Ottavio Cardinal Paravicino referred to Caravaggio’s art as existing “between the sacred and the profane.” 
  • “The Medusa” was an unconventional piece resembling conceptual art meant to be worn as a shield, transforming the wearer into Perseus. 
  • This symbolic act aligned with the Medici’s identification with the mythological hero Perseus, as seen in Benvenuto Cellini’s sculpture. Caravaggio’s paintings for the Medici were thoughtful compliments tailored to their tastes and identity.

CONTINUED SUCCESSES AND THE MURDER OF TOMASSONI

  • Caravaggio’s secular commissions during the mid-1590s included the painting “Amor Vincit Omnia,” a highly erotic depiction of Cupid surrounded by symbols of various disciplines. 
  • Commissioned by Roman nobleman Vincenzo Giustiniani, it sparked rumors of a romantic involvement between Caravaggio and his model, Cecco Boneri. 
  • However, Caravaggio’s sexual preferences seemed to defy modern labels, as he engaged in relationships with both men and women without settling with any one partner.
  • The jealousy provoked by Giustiniani’s admiration for “Amor Vincit Omnia” led to Giovanni Baglione’s parody titled “Divine Love” and, later, a depiction of Caravaggio as the devil. 
  • This led to a legal dispute, resulting in Caravaggio and his friends, including Gentileschi, being imprisoned for criminal libel, a charge that was eventually dropped.
  • After the trial, Caravaggio traveled to Loreto to research an altarpiece on the Madonna of Loreto. 
  • Upon his return to Rome, he faced financial struggles and frequent arrests for various offenses, including assault and vandalism. 
  • Despite his legal troubles, he received commissions for religious paintings, including “The Entombment of Christ” and “The Madonna of Loreto.”
  • In 1606, Caravaggio completed “The Madonna of the Palafrenieri” for St. Peter’s Chapel. 
  • Still, it was removed shortly after completion, possibly due to its perceived offensiveness or the use of a known prostitute as a model. His last central altarpiece, “The Death of the Virgin,” was also removed from public view for its stark portrayal of poverty.
  • On May 28, 1606, Caravaggio’s altercation with Ranuccio Tomassoni culminated in a fatal duel, leading Caravaggio to flee Rome. 
  • His act of murder during the duel resulted in a capital sentence, making him a wanted man throughout the Papal States.

NAPLES, MALTA, SICILY, PORTO ERCOLE: 1606-10

  • After fleeing Rome, Caravaggio sought refuge in the territories of the Colonna family in the Alban Hills, where he painted “Supper at Emmaus” and “David with the Head of Goliath,” possibly as a plea bargain. 
  • Despite rumors of a pardon in Rome, he felt unsafe and traveled to Naples under the Colonna family’s protection, where he painted several remarkable altarpieces.
  • In Naples, he completed notable works like “The Seven Acts of Mercy” and “The Beheading of St. John,” aiming to gain favor with the Knights of the Order of St. John. Caravaggio hoped to obtain a pardon for the murder he committed in Rome. However, his attempt to join the order ended in disaster when he assaulted a senior knight and was imprisoned. He managed a daring escape but faced expulsion from the order and condemnation by Rome.
  • Caravaggio then spent time in Sicily, creating haunting masterpieces amidst the threat of reprisals from Malt and Rome. 
  • He returned to Naples, where he was brutally attacked outside a tavern, leaving him severely wounded. 
  • Despite his injuries, he created his last paintings, “The Denial of Peter” and “The Martyrdom of St. Ursula.
  • In 1610, hopeful of a pardon, Caravaggio set off for Rome with paintings to offer Scipione Borghese. However, he was arrested at the port of Palo, detained briefly, then released. 
  • He traveled to Porto Ercole but died shortly after arriving, likely on July 18 or 19, 1610, at the age of 38, ending a tumultuous and tragic life. He was buried in an unmarked grave.

Caravaggio Worksheets

This fantastic bundle includes everything you need to know about Caravaggio across 29 in-depth pages. These ready-to-use worksheets are perfect for teaching kids about Caravaggio. He spent the last four years of his life moving between Naples, Malta, and Sicily before dying. Art experts describe his works as blending a realistic study of the human condition, both physical and emotional, with a dramatic use of light that influenced Baroque painting. 

Complete List of Included Worksheets

Below is a list of all the worksheets included in this document.

  1. Caravaggio Facts
  2. Knowing Caravaggio
  3. Word Search
  4. Caravaggio Journey
  5. Naming The Arts
  6. The Inspirations
  7. Painting of All Time
  8. Modern Day Caravaggio
  9. Caravaggio Vs. AI
  10. In your Own Art Style
  11. A Self Portrait

Frequently Asked Questions

Who was Caravaggio?

Caravaggio, born Michelangelo Merisi da Caravaggio in 1571, was an Italian Baroque painter known for his revolutionary use of chiaroscuro and his dramatic portrayal of subjects.

What was Caravaggio’s style of painting?

Caravaggio’s style was characterized by his use of chiaroscuro, which is the strong contrast between light and dark, as well as his dramatic and realistic portrayal of subjects. He often depicted religious and mythological scenes with intense emotion and realism.

What are some famous works by Caravaggio?

Some of Caravaggio’s most famous works include “The Calling of Saint Matthew,” “The Conversion of Saint Paul,” “The Supper at Emmaus,” “Bacchus,” and “Judith Beheading Holofernes.”

How did Caravaggio influence art?

Caravaggio’s innovative use of light and shadow, his naturalistic approach to depicting figures, and his dramatic compositions had a profound impact on the development of Baroque art. His style influenced numerous artists throughout Europe and laid the groundwork for the Baroque movement.

What was Caravaggio’s legacy?

Caravaggio’s legacy is significant in the history of art. Despite his troubled personal life and controversies surrounding his work, he is revered as one of the greatest painters of all time. His influence can be seen not only in Baroque art but also in subsequent movements, and his works continue to captivate and inspire artists and art enthusiasts today.

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Use With Any Curriculum

These worksheets have been specifically designed for use with any international curriculum. You can use these worksheets as-is, or edit them using Google Slides to make them more specific to your own student ability levels and curriculum standards.

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