About the Artist
Michelangelo Merisi was born in the town of Caravaggio (about 30 kilometres from Milan) in 1571. Caravaggio was, in fact, the first great representative of the Baroque movement. He was the archetypal rebellious artist and led a turbulent life. His life, it is said, matched the high-drama of the chiaroscuro style that his paintings became famous for.
In 1606 whilst working in Rome, one of his many brawls resulted in Caravaggio killing a young man called Ranuccio Tomassoni. With a price on his head, Caravaggio fled and headed for Naples, where he would be outside the Roman jurisdiction and under the protection of the Colonna family.
After just a few months, despite a successful period in Naples where he was given a number of important church commissions, Caravaggio left for Malta, the headquarters of the Knights of the Order of St John of Jerusalem, arriving on the island in July 1607.
Caravaggio was invested as a knight of magistral obedience by Grand Master Alof de Wignacourt so taken was he at having an artist of such calibre as official painter of the Order. It was during this time that Caravaggio was commissioned to paint ‘The Beheading of St John the Baptist’ and ‘St Jerome Writing’, both of which are on display in St John’s Co-Cathedral.
This period of relative calm in his life was short lived, and by late August 1608, Caravaggio was arrested for causing trouble once again, this time badly wounding a high ranking Knight in another fight. Imprisoned at Fort St Angelo, disgraced and unable to paint, he used his inventive powers to plan his escape. Caravaggio’s incredible break-out took place in October 1608 and once again he was on the run. The Council, informed of his escape, immediately expelled him from the Order.
After a nine month stay in Sicily, Caravaggio returned to Naples and the protection of the Colonna family. Whilst in Sicily he was trying to secure a pardon by Pope Paul V. His style and technique as an artist was still evolving and he enjoyed a productive time in his second spell in Naples. An attempt was made on his life, and an incorrect account of his death was reported in Rome. Although Caravaggio survived the attempt, his face was left seriously disfigured.
In an attempt to build bridges, Caravaggio painted 'Salome with the Head of John the Baptist'. He depicted his own head on the platter and sent the work to de Wignacourt as a plea for forgiveness.
In 1610, Caravaggio took a boat north to receive a pardon, thanks to powerful allies in Rome. What happened then is shrouded in mystery. The artist was reported as dead in a private newsletter (an avviso) dated 28th July. Three days later, another newsletter declared that the artist had died of fever. His body, however, was never found.
The Beheading of Saint John the Baptist
This is the altar piece of the Oratory and was commissioned by Grand Master Alof de Wignacourt. It is the largest painting produced by the artist and the only one known to be signed.
The Beheading of St John the Baptist was completed in 1608 and depicts the saint at the moment of his martyrdom. The executioner holds down his head whilst the janitor instructs him to finish the job. An old lady clasps her head in horror whilst the young woman, possibly Salome, holds a large charger to receive the head. Caravaggio then scrawled his name in the blood oozing out of St John’s neck.
The painting measures 361cm x 520cm.
Saint Jerome Writing
It is probable that Caravaggio was commissioned the painting of St Jerome directly by an important Italian Knight called Fra Ippolito Malaspina.
Caravaggio depicts the saint seated on his bed, writing. St Jerome is known for translating the bible from Greek into Latin. On the table is one modest volume in which he writes. Placed close to the edge of the table are a stone, a skull and a crucifix.
The coat of arms on the painting is that of Fra Ippolito Malaspina. It was after his death that this painting was donated to the chapel of Italy in the church of St John.
