"Ribera; Vermeer; Georges de La Tour and Rembrandt could never have existed without him; And Delacroix; Courbet and Manet would have been utterly different" Roberto Longhi.
The artist Caravaggio had a profound influence on figurative painting. He was a rebel who shocked the established art world with every painting. His use of prostitutes for models of Mary and his depiction of saints in common dress outraged the church. He even killed a man over a tennis match. His life was short and he died in exile. After his death, his detractors attributed lesser paintings to him and many of his greatest works were claimed by other artists. Even today, mystery and controversy surround him and his work but there is no denying his amazing talent.
The dramatic lighting is the first thing I notice when I see a Caravaggio. Well before Rembrandt, he used a nearly black background to emphasize the figures and lead the viewer into the story of each painting. The Calling of Saint Matthew is one of his earlier works. Although a complicated composition, Caravaggio leads us right to the center of interest. The shadow on the wall, the three accusing fingers and the sword of the seated man, all point to the seated Saint Matthew forming a triangle. He uses this device throughout his work. In the Crucifixion of Saint Peter, I count seven triangle shapes. You can probably find more.
Foreshortening is another favorite technique of Caravaggio. The seated figure in the center of the Calling of Saint Matthew, with his back to us, could have cut the painting in half but the use of the foreshortened legs directs my eye back into the painting. The foreshortened hand of Christ in Supper at Emmaus, grabs my attention.
One last element that makes Caravaggio's paintings so intense, is the direction of the observer's gaze. In Supper at Emmaus even the barmaid and server direct me with their gaze. All eyes lead to Christ. I especially love the gaze play in the Calling of Saint Matthew, at the top. The seated men at the table are looking at the standing men who are pointing to Saint Matthew. I don't know any other painter who directs the eye so well.
Sharon Weaver