Caravaggio: Life, Loves, Art & Secrets

What's inside

1. Level 1: Who Was Caravaggio?Free
   Meet Michelangelo Merisi da Caravaggio: his birth, family, and the rough streets of Milan that shaped him.
2. Level 2: Rome: The Volatile Art HubFree
   Understand the chaotic, crime-ridden Rome of the 1590s that became Caravaggio's playground and battleground.
3. Level 3: First Breakthroughs
   Learn how Caravaggio went from street painter to the employ of Cardinal del Monte, producing his first major works.
4. Level 4: The Call of the Cardsharps
   See how 'The Cardsharps' and 'The Fortune Teller' launched Caravaggio's fame through genre scenes with psychological realism.
5. Level 5: Chiaroscuro: Light from Darkness
   Master the concept of chiaroscuro—the dramatic contrast of light and shadow that became Caravaggio's signature.
6. Level 6: Tenebrism: The Deeper Shadow
   Explore tenebrism as an intensified chiaroscuro that plunges backgrounds into near-total darkness for dramatic effect.
7. Level 7: Radical Naturalism
   Understand Caravaggio's revolutionary choice to paint saints and biblical figures as ordinary, dirty, and real people.
8. Level 8: Mastering the Sacred Scene
   See how Caravaggio applied his techniques to altarpieces, creating immersive, theatrical religious narratives.
9. Level 9: Sword and Temper
   Delve into Caravaggio's documented brawls, street fights, and his notorious temper that led to a murder charge.
10. Level 10: Forbidden Desires
    Explore the homoerotic undertones in many of Caravaggio's works and how they clashed with church morality.
11. Level 11: Violence on Canvas
    Analyze how Caravaggio's brutal life translated into shockingly violent biblical scenes, from beheadings to floggings.
12. Level 12: Exile and the Final Works
    Follow Caravaggio's flight to Naples, Malta, and Sicily, and the masterpieces he produced while on the run.
13. Level 13: The Mysterious Death
    Unravel the conflicting accounts of Caravaggio's death at 38—was it malaria, murder, or something else?
14. Level 14: Influence on the Baroque
    See how Caravaggio's style directly shaped the Baroque movement and artists like Rubens, Rembrandt, and Velázquez.
15. Level 15: Lesser-Known Secrets
    Discover surprising facts: his use of prostitutes as models, hidden self-portraits, and lost paintings.
16. Level 16: Final Challenge: Caravaggio Mastery Exam
    Synthesize all course knowledge in a comprehensive review quiz covering Caravaggio's life, art, and secrets.

Access

The first 2 levels are free with a free account. Every level, the podcast edition and the AI tutor come with All Access at £4.99/month or any Creator plan — see pricing.

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