Caravaggio: The Rebel Who Changed Art Forever — Full Biography from Birth to Death

Birth and Early Life (1571–1584): Born Into Chaos

Caravaggio was born on September 29, 1571, in Milan, Italy. His family soon moved to the small town of Caravaggio, from which he later took his famous name. His father, Fermo Merisi, worked as an administrator and architect for noble families.

When Caravaggio was only six, plague swept through the region, killing his father and grandfather. This early exposure to death, violence, and instability left a permanent mark on his personality and art.

From childhood, he was restless, defiant, and intensely observant of real life.

Apprenticeship and Training (1584–1592)

At age 13, Caravaggio became an apprentice to Simone Peterzano, a painter who had trained under Titian. Here, he learned:

• oil painting techniques

• detailed realism

• Venetian use of color

• drawing from live models

But Caravaggio hated idealized beauty. He preferred real faces, scars, dirt, wrinkles, and raw emotion. He left Milan for Rome in his early twenties, hungry for success—and trouble.

Rome Years: Poverty to Fame (1592–1600)

Caravaggio arrived in Rome poor and unknown. He survived by:

• painting still lifes

• working in other artists’ studios

• selling small works cheaply

But his talent was undeniable. His breakthrough came when Cardinal Francesco del Monte recognized his genius and became his patron.

Revolutionary Style

Caravaggio shocked Rome by:

• painting biblical figures as ordinary people

• using dramatic light and shadow (chiaroscuro)

• eliminating idealization

• focusing on raw emotion

Key early masterpieces:

• The Calling of Saint Matthew

• The Martyrdom of Saint Matthew

• The Supper at Emmaus

These works changed the direction of European painting overnight.

Violence, Scandal, and Crime

While his art flourished, Caravaggio’s personal life spiraled out of control. He was:

• arrested multiple times

• involved in street fights

• known to carry weapons

• accused of assault and defamation

In 1606, during a violent duel, Caravaggio killed Ranuccio Tomassoni. He was sentenced to death and forced to flee Rome.

Life on the Run (1606–1610)

As a fugitive, Caravaggio moved across Italy:

• Naples

• Malta

• Sicily

Even while hunted, he produced some of his darkest and most powerful works:

• David with the Head of Goliath (with his own face as Goliath)

• The Beheading of Saint John the Baptist

• The Burial of Saint Lucy

His art became more intense, violent, and spiritual—reflecting his inner torment.

Imprisonment and Escape

In Malta, Caravaggio joined the Order of Saint John hoping for protection. But after attacking a fellow knight, he was imprisoned and later escaped in a daring nighttime breakout.

His reputation as both genius and criminal spread across Europe.

Death (1610): A Mysterious End

In July 1610, at age 38, Caravaggio died under mysterious circumstances on the Tuscan coast.

Theories include:

• fever or malaria

• infection from wounds

• murder by enemies

• poisoning

He died alone, exhausted, and broken—just as news of a possible papal pardon may have reached him.

Legacy: The Man Who Redefined Art

Caravaggio’s influence was enormous. He:

• created modern realism in painting

• pioneered dramatic lighting

• inspired artists like Rembrandt, Velázquez, and Rubens

• changed religious art forever

His followers, known as Caravaggisti, spread his style across Europe.

Why Caravaggio Still Matters

Caravaggio showed that:

• holiness can look human

• beauty can be flawed

• darkness can tell truth

• art can be dangerous

He didn’t paint heaven—he painted humanity.