Living 400 years ago in the time of the counter reformation; in the time of Shakespeare; Caravaggio staged scenes with lighting that inspires modern film directors.

“St Francis In Ecstasy”, Caravaggio 1593-1594

Having lived with high quality images and movies; it is difficult for us to conceive the effect his realism had in its days. Every one of his works raised a scandal; and each one haunts us with intrigue even today.

Caravaggio’s contribution was such that whilst many artists followed him obsessively; others such as Poussin declared that Caravaggio came to destroy art. Until the late 19th century many biographers and art scholars ignored his works.

Today; after so much ink has been spilled in writing books about Caravaggio; his few paintings are the subject of so much heated debate; and hardly more than 60 paintings are attributed with certainty to this rapid artist.

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