Sunday, November 20, 2011

Caravaggio

A controversial genius.
He took the art scene by storm and it’s never quite been the same since. Michaelangelo Merisi da Caravaggio’s art, like his character, resists comparison.

Last month, I had the opportunity to witness twelve pieces Caravaggio left behind. From June 17th to September 11th, the National Gallery of Canada in Ottawa is hosting 58 works by more than 30 artists. Twelve of said pieces are Caravaggio’s original works. The exhibit was five years in the making as it marks the first time any of Caravaggio’s works have been on Canadian soil.

When he started painting, no one else was using light and dark in such forceful juxtaposition (he began with black canvas and worked his way to the peaks of light), nor were other painters of the day using live models (without regard of their questionable moral bearings) nor were others painting the everyday (and somewhat objectionable) scenes that would meet the common 17th century street-wanderer.

What is perhaps the most remarkable about Caravaggio is the seeming schizophrenia in the life and work of the renowned artist. Many, upon contemplating his paintings would probably come away convinced of Caravaggio’s saintly disposition or of his profound devotion to the mysteries of the Christian faith. Then they’d learn about his life. Then disbelief would set in along with the overwhelming inclination to make excuses for this brilliant yet, apparently troubled man.

Caravaggio’s family hails from the small town of Caravaggio (in Lombardy, Italy) though Caravaggio himself was born in Milan. His career began at 13 when he was accepted as an apprentice for Simone Peterzano (a Milanese painter). There, Caravaggio learned about materials and techniques, studied art and performed menial tasks in the workshop.

Then, like all other fledgling young artists of his day, Caravaggio hit the road for Rome. Here, it was an unspoken rule that artists must converge to make a life for themselves. After all, if they were to sustain themselves on the world of art alone, then there was nothing like Church commissions to keep food on the table!

After a few tough years, Caravaggio was noticed by Cardinal Del Monte. The Cardinal was taken with the young artist’s unique techniques. So much so, that the Cardinal had Caravaggio move into his palace and he began to actively promote the young artist’s works. This marked Caravaggio’s entrance into high society. (Read entire article.)
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5 comments:

krissy knox said...

comment part one:

Elena, I just wanted to say that while I do understand that Caravaggio was a very controversial figure, I think that a lot is not understood about him, bc a lot is not understood about schizophrenia, itself. It's not true to say that one has a "schizophrenic life" as the writer of the post stated. Schizophrenia is a disease, not a split type of life -- where you go from good to bad. And it doesn't mean "split personality" either.

There are a few things that the author of this post said that bothered me said. Especially: "What is perhaps the most remarkable about Caravaggio is the seeming schizophrenia in the life and work of the renowned artist. Many, upon contemplating his paintings would probably come away convinced of Caravaggio’s saintly disposition or of his profound devotion to the mysteries of the Christian faith. Then they’d learn about his life. Then disbelief would set in along with the overwhelming inclination to make excuses for this brilliant yet, apparently troubled man."

I'm now going to make a bold statement -- one can have schizophrenia, and still be spiritual. Can be holy. Have profound devotion to the mysteries of the Christian faith (especially). You must remember that Schizophrenia is a mental illness, a disease that effects the brain. A disease does not exclude being holy. Please remember what the Church teaches about culpability. One with schizophrenia often does the best he can with the capabilities and the mental abilities he has. To say that Caravaggio didn't do this, didn't try his best to follow the Lord, isn't fair, as you don't know, and can't judge him. And for one to say that he didn't have great devotion to the mysteries of the Christian faith actually puzzles me. I think if this were true, he would have picked a different subject to paint about, and would have chosen a different circle of friends to hang around in.

Yes, his behavior was often not saintly, at least subjectively. On the other hand, many things that were attributed to him have now been dispusted. For instance, the young man that was killed by him is now thought to very possibly have been an accident. Then again perhaps not. But again, we must remember, when one has schizophrenic behavior, we don't always know what one is going to do when they are in psychosis -- he could have feared that man was going to kill him for all we know. I am not making excuses -- just stating a fact.
continued in comment part 2

krissy knox said...

continued (comment part 2)

Why am I stating all this? Because I have friends, and yes -- I'll let the cat out of the bag -- even family members, who are schizophrenics or schizoaffectives (gasp, i actually admitted this for the first time online). And they are 100% normal at this time, praise the Lord! But they weren't always. They fought long HARD battles to become totally functioning.

Yes, the schizophrenic CAN outgrow it, or at least become highly functional, living a normal life. But it takes a number of years to get to that point -- and it takes a LOT of learning what works and a LOT of HARD work to get there. It also helps to get older. When you reach about age 40 the schizophrenia often goes away or gets significantly better. This is quite common. Until that time, a schizophrenic must work VERY HARD to keep his mind straight. He must also work very hard on his spiritual life and on depending on the Lord, and working hard not to sin. And he needs to do many things to fight against the schizophrenia, and to make himself whole, with the help of the Lord. He has to do many things, including learning social skills, learning about his disease, learning who to trust (which is hard when you are prone to psychosis in the first place) so you have someone to tell you when you are wrong and in psychosis (and imagining things or are suspicious for no reason or hallucinating). A schizophrenic also needs to get a relationship w the Lord and depend on Him, and practice meditation and contemplation, speaking to the Lord daily. There are so many things a schizophrenic needs to do to get better.

continued in comment part 3
krissy knox :)

krissy knox said...

continued (comment part 3)

And as the schizophrenic travels down that road to recovery, often tortured until he gets to a comfortable place, where he finally feels he has arrived, and is at a place where he is comfortable with his actions and okay with his brothers and sisters in the Lord, and ok with the Lord, he makes a lot of mistakes, and he sins, just like other Christians. And sometimes it is not really sinning, as I stated earlier, it is mistakes made by a man who lashes out at someone, someone who thinks is saying something to him (when it's not really happening), or laughing at him (when it's not really occuring), or reporting him to the FBI (when it's the farthest thing from the truth). So the schizophrenic acts out of fear. But not out of evilness.

But he CAN and often does get better.

Another way he gets better, or maintains his health, is through medication. It does not dope him up, but just buts his brain back to where it should be -- so to speak -- like where your and my brain is. Schizophrennics take antipsychotics which block receptors in the brain's dopamine pathways. Schizophrenics have too much dopamine. Too much Dopamine causes an overstimulation in the thought centers of the brain, causing hallucinations, paranoia, suspicions, hypervigilance, difficulty concentrating, thought disorders, etc.

continued in comment part 4
krissy knox :)

krissy knox said...

(continued) comment part 4

Medicine for schizophrenia merely blocks the excessive dopamine that is causing the schizophrenic's symptoms. That's why the anti-psychotic medication is so important.

Getting back to Caravaggio, I know he had a very hard time. In the 17th Century anti-psychotics didn't exist. Men and women like him suffered incomprehensibly. I can't even imagine the pain one went through going their whole life hearing voices, being paranoid, being prone to anger and getting into fights but not being able to control himself, etc (if he truly was a schizophrenic). A schizophrenic, esp a Catholic Christian schizophrenic, doesn't want to be one... And suffers beyond what is none. Just thinking about what one does after doing it tortures a schizophrenic, as he wishes he could be different and more Christlike...

Okay, I am done now, Elena. Sorry my comment was so long. I just thought it was important. I just wanted to say you could be Catholic Christian and schizophrenic at the same time.

The writer of this post stated in this article: "Then disbelief would set in along with the overwhelming inclination to make excuses for this brilliant yet, apparently troubled man." So I just wanted to end with this. I don't think we HAVE to make excuses for Caravaggio. You CAN be Christian, brilliant and troubled. And I don't think ANY of them are mutually exclusive!

thanks for letting me share,
krissy knox :)

elena maria vidal said...

Krissy, thank you for the excellent comments! You are so right! People should not throw around terms like "schizophrenia" which is a very real illness for so many people. And being a Christian does not mean perfect health and perfect life.