Object Image

Caravaggio was one of the pivotal figures in the history of Western art. In his short lifetime, he created a theatrical style that was as shocking to some as it was new, inspiring others to probe their subject matter for the drama of psychological relationships.

Apprenticed in Milan, Caravaggio came to Rome in the early 1590s. There his early masterpiece The Cardsharps came to the attention of the influential Cardinal Francesco Maria del Monte, who not only purchased it but also offered the artist quarters in his palace. Caravaggio was thus introduced to the elite stratum of Roman ecclesiastical society, which soon gave him his first significant opportunity to work on a large scale and for a p...

c. 1595
Oil on canvas
94.2 x 130.9cm
AP 1987.06
Image and text © Kimbell Art Museum, 2018

Where you'll find this

Kimbell Art Museum
Permanent collection

Deepen your knowledge