Michelangelo da Merisi

Michelangelo da Merisi, better known as Caravaggio, was an influential Italian Baroque painter renowned for his dramatic use of light and shadow. Born in 1571, he revolutionized the art world with his realistic and often gritty depictions of religious subjects, infusing them with emotion and humanity. His tumultuous life, marked by violent encounters and a notorious reputation, culminated in a murder charge that forced him to flee Rome in 1606. Despite his troubled existence, Caravaggio's works gained immense popularity, and he is now celebrated as one of the greatest painters in Western art history. The ongoing exhibition 'Caravaggio 2025' at the Palazzo Barberini in Rome highlights his enduring legacy and impact on the art community.