Caravaggio
Definition
Caravaggio was an influential Italian painter from the late 16th and early 17th centuries, known for his innovative use of light and shadow in what came to be known as tenebrism.
Analogy
Think of Caravaggio as a movie director who's really good at using lighting effects. Just like how a director can create suspense or drama with shadows and spotlights, Caravaggio used light and dark in his paintings to create intense emotional scenes.
Related terms
Tenebrism: A style of painting where most of the figures are engulfed in shadow but some are dramatically illuminated by a beam of light usually from an identifiable source.
Chiaroscuro: An artistic technique popularized by Caravaggio, used to convey a sense of volume and modeling through contrasts between light and dark.
The Calling of St Matthew: One famous work by Caravaggio that exemplifies his use of tenebrism and chiaroscuro.
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Practice Questions (1)
- How did the Counter-Reformation influence Baroque art, as seen through the audience and purpose of Caravaggio's "The Calling of Saint Matthew"?
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