Learn about the historical significance of Counter Reformation Art as propaganda, and how Caravaggio revolutionised Baroque Art in the late 16th early 17th century. We will discover that churches were the art galleries of the time, and that the Vatican was the Hollywood of the day, employing as Florence did in the 15th century, all the greatest painters, sculptors and architects. We will analyse in detail what separated Caravaggio's ability to execute a brief from a cardinal, and then produce a radically new dramatic interpretation of a religious scene. Often rejected as too controversial and lacking in decorum by the clergy, he became the most sought after painter in Italy. His 'Bad Boy of the Baroque' reputation preceeded him, being the only artist to have killed a man in a duel. We will learn that beyond his disagreeable image was an artistic genius.

DELIVERY MODE

• Face-to-Face

SUGGESTED READING

• Caravaggio A Life Sacred & Profane, Andrew Graham Dixon
• M, Peter Robb
• Caravaggio's Shadow film, directed by Michele Placido 2022

COURSE OUTLINE

• Michelangelo Merisi - His early life in Caravaggio & Milan from 1571- 1592 and the relevance of Art as Propaganda in the Counter Reformation Italy.
• The Rome years (1592-1606): Becoming ‘Caravaggio’ the evolution of his powerful dramatic religious compositions - a unique method in his madness - specific paintings will be analysed in detail - becoming a wanted man.
• His final four years (1606-1610): Caravaggio on the run in Naples, a Knighthood and high drama in Malta, a fugitive in Sicily and a return to Naples, all the while producing his signature dramatic cinematic images. Specific paintings will be analysed in detail.
• The Darker the Shadow the Brighter the Light - Caravaggio’s legacy in painting and his influence on 20th Century cinema.

LEARNING OUTCOMES

By the end of this course, students should be able to:

1. Explore the study of Caravaggio’s art as a poignant lesson in visual literacy and its importance in understanding the power of an image.
2. Have a better understanding of the way in which a picture directs our focus and influences our emotions.