Italian Renaissance 18 January 2022

I'm glad to say I am back to my Italian Renaissance class on Monday nights in the I.P.A.V. This week we had a lecture on Caravaggio and I am sure most of you now the story about the painting below ' The Taking of Christ' which is probably one of the most famous paintings in the National Gallery. This painting was in the dinning room of the Jesuit's home in Leeson St. for many years under the impression it was by another artist Gerrit Van Honthorist. It had been donated by Dr Marie Lea Wilson in the 1930's as she had a long standing friendship with the Jesuit's. It was discovered in 1990 as the lost Caravaggio after 3 years of meticulous research.

Caravaggio himself had a very colourful life. He was born in 1571 and he is most famous for his expertise in ' Chiaroscuro' which means dark to light. He trained in Milan before moving to Rome but he had a violent side to his personality. He had a reputation for getting into fights and unfortunately one of these led to the death of a man. He fled to Naples then Malta an Sicily. He returned to Naples and while on his way to Rome in 1610 he died in suspicious circumstances. The rumours were he died of a fever or that he was murdered. Such a pity we will never know the truth, no social media then !