I have just finished reading Matt Rees' "A Name In Blood" - a historical novel on the life of Caravaggio - I would hesitate to call it a biography though it certainly is a retelling of his life.
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| Alessio Boni as Caravaggio |
Most people with an interest in renaissance art and artists would be familiar with this notorious and yet enigmatic artist, his famous works, and his untimely and mysterious death. Just recently I had watched a two part series on Caravaggio starring Alessio Boni on SBS - and this is what drew me to Rees' book - I was searching for answers as to how this man met his ultimate demise, and Rees certainly puts forward a plausible theory.
From the Web Museum:
"Caravaggio was born Michelangelo Merisi on Sept. 28, 1573, in Caravaggio, Italy. Orphaned at age 11, he was apprenticed to the painter Simone Peterzano of Milan for four years. At some time between 1588 and 1592, Caravaggio went to Rome and worked as an assistant to painters of lesser skill. About 1595 he began to sell his paintings through a dealer. The dealer brought Caravaggio to the attention of Cardinal Francesco del Monte.
Early in 1608 Caravaggio went to Malta and was received as a celebrated artist. Fearful of pursuit, he continued to flee for two more years, but his paintings of this time were among the greatest of his career. After receiving a pardon from the pope, he was wrongfully arrested and imprisoned for two days. A boat that was to take him to Rome left without him, taking his belongings. Misfortune, exhaustion, and illness overtook him as he helplessly watched the boat depart. He collapsed on the beach and died a few days later on July 18, 1610."
Caravggio - A Life:
Caravaggio - wikipedia
Caravaggio - Biography dot com
Caravaggio - from Caravaggio dot com
Books on Caravaggio:
Caravaggio: A Life Sacred and Profane by Andrew Graham-Dixon
Caravaggio: The Complete Works by Rossella Vodret
Caravaggio And His Legacy by J. Patrice Marandel
Discovering Caravaggio: The Art Lover's Guide … by Stefano Zuffi
M : The Man Who Became Caravaggio by Peter Robb
Caravaggio: A Life by Helen Langdon
Caravaggio by John T. Spike
Caravaggio: A Novel by Christopher Peachment
Caravaggio: A Passionate Life Hardcover by Desmond Seward
Caravaggio by Catherine Puglisi
Caravaggio: The Artist and His Work by Sybille Ebert-Schifferer
The Art of Caravaggio:
Caravaggio - at Art dot com
Caravaggio - The Metropolitan Museum of Art
Caravaggio on the Screen:
Caravaggio on SBS (2008)
Caravaggio - YouTube
The Power of Art - Caravaggio - YouTube
Caravaggio in the News:
The Mystery of Caravaggio's Death - The Guardian
Sacred Art and the Return of the Caravaggio - The Malta Independent
Five Most Disturbing Paintings of Caravaggio - Manolith
Caravaggio's Dark Heart in Malta - The Guardian
Derek Jarman's Caravaggio - Press Release
Poor Polidoro - the Other Caravaggio - The Guardian
Secret Stash of Caravaggio Sketches - The Guardian
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