Caravaggio: Behold the Man

" Behold the Man"  c. 1605-06

     

The Columbus Museum of Art is the only U.S. stop for the baroque painter Michelangelo Merisi da Caravaggio's piece, "Ecce Homo: Behold the Man," painted around 1606. The painting depicts a scene from the account in the New Testament's book of John, chapter 19 in which Pontius Pilate displays Jesus to the crowd and mockingly declares, "behold, the man."  Jesus is draped in robes and wearing a crown of thorns.  Art historians believe that the face of Pilate is that of an older Caravaggio. Caravaggio's face is also depicted as that of the giant in his painting of "David With the Head of Goliath."

"David with the Head of Goliath" c. 1597-99

 

 

 

     
     Only about 80 of Caravaggio's paintings survive but his influence was strong enough to inspire the term, "Caravaggiesque."  The other 10 paintings in this exhibit, all taken from Ohio museums and one private collector, were inspired by Caravaggio's style of realism depicting severe, raw passionate emotions with shafts of light highlighting his subject's otherwise dark surroundings. A Baroque painting can be identified as such by these characteristic distinctive patches of light and dark .His models were often found in the streets and painted in a realistic manner much to the disapproval of the church and its patrons, which were accustomed to a calmer more idealized interpretation. Caravaggio's subjects were shocking and too real for his day.

      Caravaggio lifestyle was as passionate and fervent as his paintings. His drunken brawls and flamboyant lifestyle resulted in multiple arrests, attempts on his life and he killed a man that resulted in a Papal death warrant that forced him to live as an exile. He attempted to return to Rome to receive a pardon but died in Tuscany at the age of 38 possibly from lead poisoning.

"Judith Beheading Holofernes" c. 1598 

     To celebrate the opening of this show, the museum will host two parties and a fundraiser this Saturday. Inspired by the bad boy of Baroque, Caravaggio-A-Go-Go will celebrate all things Italian and will offer guests a trip through some of Italy's cities, a sampling of regional foods, arias from select Italian operas, an orchestra with "Frank Sinatra" and of course Italian wines. This event is black tie and VIP Tickets are $650. The less extravagant of the two parties, $100/ticket, will celebrate in bawdy Caravaggio style the seven deadly sins of gluttony, greed, lust, sloth, wrath, envy and pride. The two parties will merge at the end of the evening.  How fun does all this sound?!?  Wish I was going.  I do hope to get to Columbus before the exhibit closes February 5, 2012.  The museum is located at 480 East Broad St. in Columbus, OH