Caravaggio's death related to paint at the age of 39

Caravaggio, a great painter of vivid theatrical lighting effects, had an equally dramatic life, fraught with danger due to his erratic personality. According to Daily Art magazine, “after every two weeks of work, Caravaggio would swagger for a month or two with a sword at his side and his servants following him, always ready to fight or argue.”

'The Fortune Teller' was painted by Caravaggio in 1595.

Caravaggio's final years were filled with violence. In 1606, the Italian artist killed a young man and fled Rome. He was then involved in a brawl in Malta in 1608 and in Naples in 1609, in which he was seriously injured.

During this time, both Caravaggio's paintings and his mood became increasingly dark and gloomy. He even slept with weapons and tore up paintings after any criticism.

Meanwhile, friends in Rome successfully petitioned the Pope for a papal pardon so that Caravaggio could return.

Mysterious death for 400 years

Caravaggio intended to board a ship to return home, but the trip was not successful because he was arrested and imprisoned. When he was released, the ship and all his belongings had already sailed. Caravaggio fell ill and died a few days later, alone, in the town of Porto Ercole (Tuscany, Italy).

There are several theories about Caravaggio's death, including malaria, syphilis, and being murdered by enemies. However, after 400 years, archaeologists and forensic scientists have come up with a more convincing cause: Death from a wound contaminated with lead.

They are “85% certain” they have found Caravaggio’s bones, thanks to carbon dating and DNA testing on remains excavated in Tuscany.

'Boy Bitten by a Lizard' was completed in 1596.

Researcher Silvano Vinceti was set into action when a document showed that the artist was buried in the small San Sebastiano cemetery in the town of Porto Ercole. Vinceti and his colleagues collected information on the remains of a man who bore Caravaggio's characteristics: tall, died at the age of 38-40 in 1610.

The team's next stop was Caravaggio's hometown to compare DNA from the suspected skeleton and those of the artist's relatives. The results showed a 50-60% match.

According to the Guardian , the skeleton contained very high levels of lead. Lead poisoning would have caused existing wounds to become severely infected and cause death.

“The lead could have come from Caravaggio’s paints, who lived a very messy life,” explains Vinceti. Art historians have suspected that Goya and Van Gogh were also affected by lead in their paints.

Controversial paintings

Caravaggio was born in 1571 in Milan to an architect father. At the age of 13, he began a four-year apprenticeship with the painter Simone Peterzano, becoming acquainted with the works of masters such as Leonardo da Vinci, Michelangelo, Titian, and Raphael.

Caravaggio is known for his realism and chiaroscuro technique – the strong contrast between light and dark that is a hallmark of Baroque art. He also used ordinary people as models for religious and mythological scenes, giving them a sense of authenticity and intimacy.

Many of Caravaggio's works were placed in churches in Rome, launching his career and establishing his reputation. However, some were rejected because of their eccentric style, dramatic content, references to death, and images considered vulgar for the period.

Caravaggio and his works had a significant impact on the art of his time and continue to be admired today. His influence can be seen in the work of many artists such as Peter Paul Rubens, Rembrandt, Johannes Vermeer and Diego Velazquez.

(Source: Vietnamnet)

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