Monday Morning Museum: Michelangelo Merisi da Caravaggio

Portrait of Caravaggio, 1621 by Ottavio Leoni

Michelangelo Merisi da Caravaggio – Saturday 29 September 1571 Milan, Italy to Wednesday 18 July 1610 Porto Ercole, Italy

Italian Baroque Era Painter

The Musicians, circa 1595

“This picture dates from about 1595 and was painted for his first great patron, Cardinal Francesco del Monte. Although it was described by contemporaries as "una musica" (a music piece), it is an allegory of music. Cupid, "who is always in the company of music" (Vasari), is shown at left with a bunch of grapes, "because music was invented to keep spirits happy, as does wine" (Ripa). The costumes have a vaguely classical look.

The surface of the picture is worn and there are extensive losses in the back of the right-hand figure and in the still life of music and the violin. The upturned page of music is a reconstruction based on an old copy of the picture.”
- Metropolitan Museum of Art

Last Monday’s Artist – Edward Hopper
Next Monday’s Artist - Frederick Childe Hassam

“Monday Morning Museum” logo created by Adrean Darce Brent