The Sinner not the Saint

David with head of Goliath

1609-1610

CARAVAGGIO

1571-1610

My intention for today was to soften up on the brutal world, I have lately focused on. But then last night I ended up seeing a Documentary about Caravaggio from BBC, from the Simon Schama "Power of Art" Series (the accent makes me miss my British friends). And I thought that I had to round up this week with the originator of the realistic brutal art. 

As Simon Shama says:

Caravaggio... Crashes the safety barrier of the frame... it tears away the separation- it reaches you.

Makes something sacred out of the life of the squalid.

Makes the sinner not the saint.

Caravaggio painted himself as the sinner not the hero, the self portrait of himself as Goliath is his offer to Borghese for pardoning him. Although he manages to die from fever after trying to catch (on feet) the boat that his paintings were left on. The whole story sounds absolutely mad. But mad he was with a long history of his own brutal behavior and also murder. But madness as we know it can be behind the most progressive Art.

He lived and experienced the world of the "People" and he brought their imperfections into the house of God. The church accepted and admired his work because it made the people relate, it made them believe.

Medusa 1597

I was always so fascinated with the story of Medusa and her power of turning the onlooker into stone.

Madonna of the Loreto

1603-1605

His Madonna is a Woman on a street corner (he always used "real" people as models).

Bacchus

1593

His Bacchus is sick looking, with not the freshest fruit.

Narcissus

1598-99

Caravaggio lived hard and his work is harsh. 

But you will never forget the strength and the morbid beauty of any of his paintings.

Mary Magdalene in Ecstasy 

1606


Must your weekend be rich of adventures!

Love Kristin