Caravaggio

Hello! My name is Michelangelo Merisi, but everyone knows me by the name of my hometown, Caravaggio. I was born in Italy on September 29th, 1571. Ever since I was a boy, I loved to paint. When I was about 13 years old, in 1584, I became an apprentice in the city of Milan. That means I got to study with a master painter named Simone Peterzano, who taught me how to mix colors and create beautiful art. I knew right then that I wanted to be a famous painter one day.

When I was 21 years old, around 1592, I moved to the big, bustling city of Rome to follow my dream. At first, it was tough, but soon, people started noticing my paintings. I didn't paint people to look like perfect dolls; I liked to paint them looking real, just like the people I saw on the streets every day. My special trick was using light and shadows. Imagine a bright spotlight shining on an actor on a dark stage—that’s what my paintings looked like! This style was called 'chiaroscuro.' An important man, Cardinal Del Monte, loved my work and helped me get big, important jobs. Around 1599, I painted one of my most famous pictures, 'The Calling of Saint Matthew,' and soon all of Rome was talking about me!

I painted with a lot of passion, and I lived with a lot of passion, too! I had a fiery temper, and sometimes my strong feelings got me into big trouble. In 1606, I got into a very serious argument and had to leave Rome in a hurry. For the next few years, I traveled to different cities like Naples, Malta, and Sicily. Even though I was on the move, I never stopped painting. Some of my most powerful and dramatic paintings were created during this time. Art was always my way of telling a story, no matter where I was.

I lived to be 38 years old, and my life was full of adventure and art. After I was gone, my dramatic style of painting with dark shadows and bright light changed art forever. Many artists who came after me were so inspired by my work that they were called the 'Caravaggisti,' or followers of Caravaggio. Today, you can see my paintings in museums all around the world and feel the excitement and emotion I poured into every single brushstroke.