Overview
Caravaggio’s paintings are today inevitably interpreted in relation to his eventful life story. Infamous as an archetypal rogue and bad-boy artist, prefiguring a succession of characters and creators from Rome to London and New York, his biography is filled with tales of scrapes, misdemeanours, murder and exile. Equally of interest is his development of a new visual language in painting - chiaroscuro - the deployment of dramatic contrasts of light within a picture to create drama along with the illusion of solidity of form, a technique that was much copied by his contemporaries and followers and which eventually found its way into the quintessential twentieth century artforms of cinema and photography.This two-day course will use his biographical timeline to explore his life and works.
What will you experience?
The sessions will be a mixture of presentations and interactive discussions in real time – with direct interaction with the lecturer and other participants.
Why study this course?
This course will allow participants to follow in the footsteps of Caravaggio by learning about his life and his works as he travelled throughout Italy and abroad. Participants understand more about the reasons for his travels, who commissioned his works and where they reside.
Who should take this course?
Anyone who is interested in learning more about the history of Art and who want to delve deeper into the lives of the masters.
Learning outcomes
• Thorough knowledge of Caravaggio’s life and work
• Understanding of the influence he has had on the art world
• Growing confidence in looking at and interpreting works of art
Image: After Michelangelo Merisi da Caravaggio - The Cardsharps, 1594, Oil on canvas.
