Michelangelo Merisi da Caravaggio was born in 1571. At the age of 6 he was orphaned by an outbreak of bubonic plague, and at the age of 11 he moved to Milan. There he trained as a painter under Simone Peterzano, who had himself trained under Titian. Then, at 16, he moved to Rome to make his living where there was great demand for religious paintings.
When Caravaggio was in his early 20s his work was noticed by Cardinal Francesco del Monte, who gave the artist a room, board and a pension. Then, in 1597, he was commissioned to decorate a part of the Church of San Luigi dei Francesi in Rome. He was tasked with painting three large paintings, each showing a different scene from the life of Saint Matthew. The realistic style of the resultant paintings upset some viewers, and one of the works, Saint Matthew and the Angel, had to be redone in a more reverential fashion.
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Although he lived in the 16th-17th centuries, Caravaggio would not have been out of place amongst some of the 20th century artists. He was a violent man and prone to drinking and gambling, which led to him being imprisoned many times. He even killed a man in 1606, for which a death warrant was issued by the Pope. Because of this the last four years of Caravaggio's life were spent on the run.
Caravaggio was famous during his own lifetime but shunned after his death. Nevertheless, his works had a strong influence on the Baroque style which followed after him. According to one art historian, "what begins in the work of Caravaggio is, quite simply, modern painting."
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For a closer look at the pictures, please click on them to enlarge.
1.
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This is Caravaggio's earliest known work, Boy Peeling Fruit. It was painted in Rome when the artist was 21 years old and is now a part of the Longhi collection in Italy. A slightly larger version of the painting was made a year later and is now a part of the Royal Collection, displayed at which palace?
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[ ] |
Buckingham Palace |
[ ] |
Blenheim Palace |
[ ] |
Hampton Court Palace |
[ ] |
Holyrood Palace |
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2.
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Created circa 1595, the first of Caravaggio's religious paintings is this piece which depicts Saint Francis of Assisi in which state?
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[ ] |
In Ecstasy |
[ ] |
In Slumber |
[ ] |
In Rapture |
[ ] |
In Death |
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3.
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This is a second version of a painting which is also known as Murtula after the poet who wrote, "Flee, for if your eyes are petrified in amazement, she will turn you to stone." Which mythological character does the painting portray?
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[ ] |
Scylla |
[ ] |
Medusa |
[ ] |
Charybdis |
[ ] |
Circe |
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4.
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This work, Portrait of Maffeo Barberini, was made around 1598. In later years the subject rose to which position in the Catholic Church?
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[ ] |
Bishop |
[ ] |
Archbishop |
[ ] |
Cardinal |
[ ] |
Pope |
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5.
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Painted between 1601-1602, this piece is entitled Amor Vincit Omnia. How does this Latin Phrase translate into English?
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[ ] |
Arms Vanquish the Best |
[ ] |
Love's Labours Lost |
[ ] |
Armour of God |
[ ] |
Love Conquers All |
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6.
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Subtitled at the Fountain, this is one of at least 8 paintings by Caravaggio showing which biblical figure?
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[ ] |
Jesus Christ |
[ ] |
King David |
[ ] |
John the Baptist |
[ ] |
Adam |
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7.
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Located today in the Cleveland Museum of Art, this piece which was painted in 1607, shows the crucifixion of which Saint - one of the 12 Apostles?
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[ ] |
Saint Peter |
[ ] |
Saint Andrew |
[ ] |
Saint Matthew |
[ ] |
Saint John |
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8.
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Painted in 1609, the Adoration of the Shepherds has which unique honour amongst Caravaggio's works?
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[ ] |
It was the most expensive during the artist's lifetime |
[ ] |
It has the largest dimensions of the artist's works |
[ ] |
It was the most expensive after the artist's death |
[ ] |
It has the smallest dimensions of the artist's works |
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9.
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Painted during the last year of Caravaggio's life, this piece depicts which two biblical figures?
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[ ] |
Cain and Abel |
[ ] |
Herod and John the Baptist |
[ ] |
Jonathan and Saul |
[ ] |
David and Goliath |
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10.
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This is thought to be Caravaggio's final work. Painted in Naples in 1610, it depicts the martyrdom of which saint?
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[ ] |
Saint Catherine |
[ ] |
Saint Elisabeth |
[ ] |
Saint Ursula |
[ ] |
Saint Mary |
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1.
|
This is Caravaggio's earliest known work, Boy Peeling Fruit. It was painted in Rome when the artist was 21 years old and is now a part of the Longhi collection in Italy. A slightly larger version of the painting was made a year later and is now a part of the Royal Collection, displayed at which palace?
|
|
[ ] |
Buckingham Palace |
[ ] |
Blenheim Palace |
[x] |
Hampton Court Palace |
[ ] |
Holyrood Palace |
|
|
2.
|
Created circa 1595, the first of Caravaggio's religious paintings is this piece which depicts Saint Francis of Assisi in which state?
|
|
[x] |
In Ecstasy |
[ ] |
In Slumber |
[ ] |
In Rapture |
[ ] |
In Death |
|
|
3.
|
This is a second version of a painting which is also known as Murtula after the poet who wrote, "Flee, for if your eyes are petrified in amazement, she will turn you to stone." Which mythological character does the painting portray?
|
|
[ ] |
Scylla |
[x] |
Medusa |
[ ] |
Charybdis |
[ ] |
Circe |
|
|
4.
|
This work, Portrait of Maffeo Barberini, was made around 1598. In later years the subject rose to which position in the Catholic Church?
|
|
[ ] |
Bishop |
[ ] |
Archbishop |
[ ] |
Cardinal |
[x] |
Pope |
|
|
5.
|
Painted between 1601-1602, this piece is entitled Amor Vincit Omnia. How does this Latin Phrase translate into English?
|
|
[ ] |
Arms Vanquish the Best |
[ ] |
Love's Labours Lost |
[ ] |
Armour of God |
[x] |
Love Conquers All |
|
|
6.
|
Subtitled at the Fountain, this is one of at least 8 paintings by Caravaggio showing which biblical figure?
|
|
[ ] |
Jesus Christ |
[ ] |
King David |
[x] |
John the Baptist |
[ ] |
Adam |
|
|
7.
|
Located today in the Cleveland Museum of Art, this piece which was painted in 1607, shows the crucifixion of which Saint - one of the 12 Apostles?
|
|
[ ] |
Saint Peter |
[x] |
Saint Andrew |
[ ] |
Saint Matthew |
[ ] |
Saint John |
|
|
8.
|
Painted in 1609, the Adoration of the Shepherds has which unique honour amongst Caravaggio's works?
|
|
[x] |
It was the most expensive during the artist's lifetime |
[ ] |
It has the largest dimensions of the artist's works |
[ ] |
It was the most expensive after the artist's death |
[ ] |
It has the smallest dimensions of the artist's works |
|
|
9.
|
Painted during the last year of Caravaggio's life, this piece depicts which two biblical figures?
|
|
[ ] |
Cain and Abel |
[ ] |
Herod and John the Baptist |
[ ] |
Jonathan and Saul |
[x] |
David and Goliath |
|
|
10.
|
This is thought to be Caravaggio's final work. Painted in Naples in 1610, it depicts the martyrdom of which saint?
|
|
[ ] |
Saint Catherine |
[ ] |
Saint Elisabeth |
[x] |
Saint Ursula |
[ ] |
Saint Mary |
|
|