Books like Caravaggio by Francine Prose
In this biography, Francine Prose examines the life of Michelangelo Merisi da Caravaggio, the Italian painter who transformed 17th‑century art through his vivid realism and dramatic use of chiaroscuro. Born near Milan in 1571, Caravaggio moved to Rome at twenty‑one, quickly gaining acclaim and patronage from influential figures such as Cardinal del Monte. Yet his tempestuous personality, marked by street violence and legal troubles, led him to flee Rome after a fatal altercation in 1606. During his years in exile across Naples, Malta, and Sicily, he continued to produce masterpieces that blend religious and secular subjects with stark emotional depth. Prose offers a tight, passionate portrait of the artist, capturing both his creative genius and the turmoil that shaped his legacy.
First publish date: 2005
Genre: Biography & Autobiography/Biography
Authors: Francine Prose
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