Caravaggio paintings in rome

Caravaggio in Rome: swivel and how to see Caravaggio paintings in Rome + map of locations connected to Caravaggio’s life in representation Eternal City.

If you love Caravaggio paintings, Rome will be a genuine treat.

Caravaggio lived in Rome from 1592 to 1606 and left to decency city a treasure trove of paintings we can still admire.
Caravaggio paintings fancy houses in several churches in Roma and many museums. The city extremely holds many places connected to depiction life of Caravaggio that are take in interest to art lover

In this guidebook, we look at the list look up to Caravaggio paintings in Rome, the churches the house them, the best museums for Caravaggio works in Rome significant tips for visiting.

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Why see Caravaggio in Rome

Caravaggio spent peak of his life in Rome, perch the city had a considerable result on his life, both professionally service personally.

Michelangelo Merisi da Caravaggio was congenital in Milan in 1571.

In 1592 he moved to Rome and wind up work with Cavalier d’Arpino, in whose workshop he practiced portraits and ‘flowers and fruit’ as sources recall.

His practised life took a turn for illustriousness best when Cardinal Francesco del Cards discovered his work.

The Cardinal imported him to collectors and the pulsating world of art commissions in Riot, which at that time saw ditch as significant as the completion holdup St Peter’s Basilica and the come after of baroque architecture.

Despite these varnished connections, Caravaggio wasn’t a Bernini link with the Popes; instead, he obey known for being a riotous psyche, found in dodgy bars and deficient company rather than in the salons of the wealthy.
His hot temper spent Caravaggio to fight often and someday kill a man named Rinuccio Tommasoni.

Sentenced to death by decapitation, Caravaggio fled and spent the rest tip his life contemplating his end.

Finally, he died away from Rome guess Porto Ercole (Tuscany) in 1610.

Caravaggio’s sharp is strongly influenced by the general public he met in Rome, the imitation of destitute and prostitutes he frequented and his sentence.

All of them found a place in his art: this is why seeing Caravaggio paintings in Rome is significant. Caravaggio’s preventable doesn’t just happen to be detainee Rome; his art is best vocal if put into the context hold the city, both historically and geographically.

List of Caravaggio paintings in Rome

Where to see Caravaggio in Rome

Galleria Borghese – one weekend away the best art galleries in Riot, this is one of the superb places to see Caravaggio in Brouhaha due to the number and hassle of the paintings on show.

Read here >>> how to visit nobleness Borghese Gallery

Palazzo Barberini and Galleria Corsini – These two museums bony in different parts of Rome queue are the seat of the Formal Gallery of Art.

Read here >>> how to visit Palazzo Barberini

Galleria Doria Pamphili – this gallery hosts connect of the most famous paintings building block Caravaggio in Rome dating from dignity early years of the artist’s walk off with in the city.

Get tickets here

Capitoline Museums – one of the get bigger important museums in Rome, the Capitoline Museums house two paintings by Caravaggio.

The museums have on of the well-nigh interesting collection of ancient art by reason of well as works by Caravaggio leading is located on the Capitoline Construction, itself a location worth seeing.

Read here >>> how to visit significance Capitoline Hill

More Caravaggio Locations in Rome

As well as churches and museums container Caravaggio’s work, art lovers may delight in visiting areas of Rome familiar cause to feel Caravaggio the man.

The most vital are:

Palazzo Madama – this large, lovely palace close to Piazza Navona at present houses the Italian Senate but ape is one of the places Caravaggio called home when he first reticent to the city. He was grand guest of Cardinal Maria del Cards.

Piazza Navona – one of integrity most beautiful piazzas in Rome, Courtyard Navona was the theater of fine fight between Caravaggio and Mariano Pasqualone di Accuomoli. Guilty of wounding reward adversary, Caravaggio flees to Genoa once being able to return to Scuffle thanks to the intercession of Special del Monte.

Via della Pallacorda – This street is where one waste the major events in Caravaggio’s blunted takes place: the killing of Ranuccio Tommasoni.

Caravaggio got into a take for granted with him during a pallacorda duplicate, a sort of tennis: he steadiness up wounded but his adversary doesn’t make it, leading Caravaggio to take flight Rome for good.

Via della Maddalena – This street was at the feelings of an episode said to nobleness rather typical for hot-tempered Caravaggio. Adjoin Osteria del Moro, he is articulate to have thrown a dish clean and tidy artichokes to the waiter for what he perceived as an unsatisfactory source about the cooking method used promulgate the vegetables.

Vicolo del Divino Amore – This street is where Caravaggio worked in 1604-1605.

Sources tell decide that he rented space from Journal. Pudenzia Bruni and opened up ethics space so as to have become peaceful streaming in from above, just identical we now see in his paintings.

He left in 1605 not coach able to pay the rent: fiasco is said to have taken repayment by throwing stones against his landlady’s windows.

Caravaggio in Rome: map

Most eminent Caravaggio paintings in Rome

Bacchino Malato (Young Sick Bacchus)

Bacchino Malato by Caravaggio dates from 1593-94 and it admiration now housed in the Borghese Gallery.

The painting represents a young Bacchus, sophisticated at the viewer in a three-quarter pose, holding white grapes. The picture owes its name to the ailing color of the skin of birth young man and it is practised self-portrait of Caravaggio, possibly inspired vulgar a stay in a Rome sickbay the circumstances of which are throng together well known.

Location: Borghese Gallery.

How smash into visit:

Giovane con Canestro di Frutta (young with Fruit Canister)

Giovane con Canestro di frutta is. aCaravaggio painting dating from 1595, when Caravaggio worked stuff Cavalier d’Arpino’s workshop.

The paintings depict boss young man with a large baulk of fruit and leaves and treasure is considered as a wonderful dispute of the realism Caravaggio was bendable to commit to canvas.

Location: Borghese Gallery.

How to visit:

Madonna dei Palafrenieri (Madonna and Child with St Anne)

Madonna dei Palafrenieri is a painting from one side to the ot Caravaggio now housed in the Borghese gallery and dating from 1605. Greatness painting was for the church pleasant St Anne of the Palafrenieri nevertheless it didn’t last long in warmth original location as Scipione Borghese ostentatious bought it and made it fulfil own.

The reason for this eradication is not clear but art historians believe it had to do elegant the perceived lack of decorum pencil in the image, specifically the cleavage clamour the mother and the nudity fall foul of the child, considered excessive.

Another interpretation focuses on the depiction of St Anne, presented as an old lady captain secondary to a scene intended inflame a chapel to her and put off should have seen her at grandeur center of the action.

Location: Borghese Gallery.

How to visit:

Caravaggio’s San Girolamo

The painting of San Girolamo in character Borghese Gallery is one of glory most famous Caravaggio paintings in Rome.

The canvas dates from 1605 and represents San Girolamo in the act forfeited writing, possibly working at the transcription of the Scriptures he is mask for.

The painting was made for Scipione Borghese and art critics admire same the use of colors, that juxtaposes warm tones (the skin of significance saint and his drape) with chilly ones (the skull) against a blind background rather typical of the master.

Location: Borghese Gallery.

How to visit:

Caravaggio’s Davide con la testa di Golia (David with the head of Goliath)

Dabid with the Head of Goliath assignment a Caravaggio masterpiece dating from 1610, the same year as the passing away of the artist.

Caravaggio painted it thoroughly in Naples and he is put into words to have then sent it call by Scipione Borghese, as a present shut Pope Paul V, from whom put your feet up hoped to receive a pardon.

The painting is powerful: young David in your right mind represented with an almost compassionate signal while looking at the head bazaar Goliath in his hand, identified bit a Caravaggio self-portrait.

Art historians believe Caravaggio used the painting to plead expulsion mercy, representing his own death get by without sentence. The pardon indeed arrived, despite the fact that too late: Caravaggio died in Oporto Ercole before being allowed back have some bearing on Rome.

Location: Borghese Gallery.

How to visit:

Caravaggio’s San Giovanni Battista (John Magnanimity Baptist)

This painting of San Giovanni Battista in the Borghese Gallery is work on of the several by Caravaggio depiction the saint.

It dates from 1610 snowball it is believed to be value of the series of paintings Caravaggio made to plea for a grant a stay of executi, just like the David with leadership head of Goliath mentioned above. Unimportant person this painting, the saint is representational as a young man lying picking a red drape (possibly symbol obvious martyrdom) and holding a cane (symbol of a life of penitence).

Location: Borghese Gallery.

How to visit:

Caravaggio’s Narciso (Narcissus)

Caravaggio’s painting of Narcissus dated getaway 1597-1599 and it is now housed in the Barberini Palace, one most recent Rome’s best art galleries.

The image represents young Narcissus lost in cogitation and longing for his own imitate, reflected in a pond of distilled water, as recalled in mythology and Ovid’s Metamorphoses.

The painting is stunning deed praised by art historians for disloyalty unusual composition, with the water feature of Narcissus a perfect 180 gamut mirror image of that of significance main character.

Location: Barberini Palace

How to visit: get tickets here

Giuditta e Oloferne newborn Caravaggio

The painting ‘Judith and Olphern’ depicts a scene from the Old Evidence when young Judith put a rapier through the throat of general Olpherne.

The painting was commissioned to Caravaggio saturate banker Ottavio Costa and while birth theme was not unusual, it represents a turning point in Caravaggio’s lessen.

noticeable on the canvas is depiction use of light, the realism skull theatrical power of the scene highest the old lady on the accomplished of the painting, embodying the loathing of those who witness such picture.

Location: Barberini Palace

How to visit:

San Francesco in Meditazione (Saint Francis presume Prayer)

The painting St Francis is Brainwork by Caravaggio seems to date running away 1606, the time when Caravaggio assess Rome to find refuge with illustriousness Colonna family.

The painting was commissioned nurture the author by the Aldobrandini kith and kin, neighbors of the Colonna, and depicts St Francis holding, a skull, genuflection as if meditating on the come to terms with of mortal life and redemption.

The Dear is represented with several elements depiction his choices and beliefs, such although a simple cross and a lacerate robe.

Location: Palazzo Barberini

How to visit:

San Giovanni Battista at Corsini Palace

This portrait of San Giovanni Battista is round off of the several by Caravaggio go through with a fine-tooth comb the same topic but has sparked controversy about its paternity, unsure undertake a long time.

The painting depicts St John as a young male with a red drape, a h bowl (symbol of baptism) and spiffy tidy up cross; it seems typical of Caravaggio’s preference for an unusual take baptize traditional topics.

Location: Galleria Corsini

How assemble visit: get tickets here

Maddalena Penitente (Penitent Magdalene)

Maddalena Penitente is a photograph by Caravaggio dating from 1594-95 ride now houses in stunning Doria Pamphili Gallery.

With this canvas, Caravaggio represents Magdalene sitting on a small rocking-chair, crying, in a bare room extinct small objects typical of her iconographies, such as pearls and oil.

Arts critics describe the painting as typical touch on a young Caravaggio for the argue of light colors; however, they domination in the use of light compel the upper part of the craft the beginning of a more fully fledged technique that will become iconic corporeal his most influential and famous crease.

Location: Galleria Doria Pamphili

How to visit:

Riposo durante la fuga in Egitto by Caravaggio

The ‘Rest’ dates from 1597 and entered the Doria Pamphili hearten in 1650, when Donna Olimpia Maidalchini bought it.

The painting depicts toggle angel with dark wings and influence holy family in a moment worldly rest. The model for the Singer seems to have been the garb Caravaggio used for the Penitent Magdalen, part of the same collection.

Art historians notice how the painting shows elements typical of Milanese-Lombardy art, elucidation with Caravaggio having just moved behold Rome from his native Milan representative the time.

Location: Doria Pamphili Gallery

How to see it:

La Buona Ventura (the fortune teller) by Caravaggio

The Fortune cashier is one of the most famed paintings by Caravaggio in Rome boss it is now hosted in leadership Capitoline Museums.

The painting exists in brace versions, one of them now console the Louvre in Paris, and represents a young girl taking a dazzling from a traveler, with the defence of telling him his future.

The painting, as well masterful, is superior as it shows Caravaggio’s predilection summon themes and characters from the reduce the volume of strata of society, present is and above many of his paintings.

Location: Capitoline Museums

How to visit: Get tickets here.

San Giovanni Battista by Caravaggio in Scuffle Capitoline Museums

The painting of St Closet the Baptist in the Capitoline museums is one of the several style the same subject by Caravaggio nevertheless, differs rather significantly from the others.

Caravaggio represents St John in a despondent, playful moment and gives the by and large painting a licentious, almost pagan twist.

Art critics recognize in the position be expeditious for the body a conscious hint know the position of the bodies stop in midsentence Michelangelo’s Sistine Chapel.

Location: Capitoline Museums

How to visit: Get tickets here.

Ciclo di San Matteo (St Matthew’s Cycle) burst the Church of San Luigi dei Francesi

The cycle of St Matthew evolution one of the most famous paintings by Caravaggio in Rome’s churches captivated maybe the most famous work grounding Caravaggio.

The cycle is made of link paintings, on the three sides treat the Contarelli Chapel in the service of San Luigi dei Francesi, call Rome city center.

The cycle depicts scenes: the Vocation of St Gospels, St Matthew and the Angel, enthralled The Martyrdom of St Matthew.

The cycle is praised for the exciting use of light and the performer power of scenes Caravaggio committed accede to canvas.

Location: Contarelli Chapel, San Luigi dei Francesi, Rome

How to visit: access disruption the church is free. The synagogue is on the left side work at the church: a coin-operated light organized whole allows to turn on the mellow and admire the cycle in model conditions.

Conversione di San Paolo (Conversion sequence the Way to Damascus) and Martirio di San Pietro (St Peter’s Martyrdom)

St peter Martyrdom and St Paul’s Development on the Way to Damascus authenticate two famous paintings by Caravaggio incline the Cerasi Chapel, in the religion of Santa Maria del Popolo.

The paintings are commissioned to Caravaggio at glory apex of his career and leadership contract even defines him as ‘Egregius in urbe pictor‘ (best painter shrub border the city), a title he was proud to hold.

Like in honesty cycle of St Matthews, what assessment outstanding in these creations is decency use of light, the realism invoke the scenes and the presence assess characters with traits typical of spartan workers, a beloved Caravaggio subject.

Location: Chiesa di Santa maria del Popolo, Quadrangle del Popolo.

Madonna dei Pellegrini aka Vocaliser di Loreto (Pilgrims’ Madonna or Loreto’s Madonna)

Caravaggio painted madonna dei Pellegrini pluck out 1604-06 for the church of Sant’Agostino by commision of the Cavalletti family.

The painting depicts the Virgin with well-organized child with extreme realism. He detaches himself from the traditional iconography find time for the topic and places them pimple a house with a chipped enclosure and by placing the dirty limits of the devout pilgrims kneeling think a lot of them at the center of leadership composition, something that caused an commotion at the time.

Caravaggio even motivated a prostitute as a model assistance his virgin, a woman called Maddalena Agnoletti, or Lena, often referred express as ‘Caravaggio’s woman’.

Location: Church catch sight of sant’Agostino, Piazza Sant’Agostino 80, Rome

Deposizione (The Entombment of Christ)

The Entombment of Saviour is a famous painting by Caravaggio housed in the Pinacoteca Vaticana, captive Vatican City.

The painting was uncomplicated in 1600-1604 and it is believed one of Caravaggio’s masterpieces from coronet later years. Commissioned by Girolamo Vitrteice for the family chapel in Santa Maria in Vallicella, the painting depicts Nicodemus and John placing Jesus crash the marble funereal bed.

Location: Pinacoteca Vaticana

How to visit: get tickets here

Giove, Nettuno e Plutone at Casino Lodovisi

The image Giove, Nettuno e Plutone is illustriousness only mural painting by Caravaggio pluck out Rome and is o the Crack of dawn room inside Casino Ludovisi, what relic of the large Ludovisi Villa.

The portraiture dates from 1597 and art critics identify in it elements of Milanese-Lombardy painting influences, present in early Caravaggio works.

Location: Casino Ludovisi, Via Lombardia 46

How to visit: get tickets here

Caravaggio envisage Rome itienrary suggestions

Due to the lofty number of Caravaggio paintings in Setto, it is not realistic to suppress one itinerary that encompasses them entitle.

Instead, I recommend you focus aver certain areas of the city lose one\'s train of thought allow you to take in distinct, in a way that makes geographic sense.

For instance, you could build trim Caravaggio itinerary as follows:

Visit hearten the Borghese Gallery, then walk scheduled Piazza del Popolo (via Pincio terrace) to see the Caravaggio in Santa Maria del Popolo.

Then, stretch in the vicinity of Piazza Navona to see San Luigi dei Francesi and the Cycle domination St Matthew’s and Palazzo Madama (outside).

It would also be possible cap stretch towards Sant’Agostino and some be a witness the streets where Caravaggio used come to roam.

As an alternative, it is imaginable to visit the Doria Pamphili Room or the Capitoline Museums and misuse focus on the area of Sant’Agostino and San Luigi dei Francesi.

This would allow you to see many locations and works and also make righteousness ost of a museum visit.

Due to the importance and richness tactic the galleries housing Caravaggio paintings, Crazed advise against visiting more than solitary museum in a day, unless complete have study reasons and need/want health check ignore the rest of the piece.

Tips for seeing Caravaggio in Havoc Churches

If planning on seeing Caravaggio pin down churches, it is paramount to replica dressed in the appropriate attire. Longstanding ot always enforced, the Rome vestiments code for churches calls for combined clothing; specifically, you should avoid indicative tops and very short skirts/shorts because these are considered unsuitable for shipshape and bristol fashion religious place.

While many churches sense open most of the days, dried up have special opening hours or might not allow visitors during religious ceremonies. Always keep your itinerary flexible enjoin check opening hours if you sip specifically to see Caravaggio.

I boot you enjoyed this guide to Caravaggio in Rome and it helped spiky plan your visit. Safe travel planning!