Let’s look at another Caravaggio. (Sorry, I can’t help myself!) It was quite a thrill for me to see this painting in the Uffizi Gallery in Florence. One reason I love Caravaggio is that he doesn’t just paint scenes—he paints human emotions. And nowhere is that clearer than in this painting titled, The Sacrifice of […]
Tag Archives: Caravaggio
July
14
A Shady Scene and a Surprising Call
posted by laurieetta
It looks like a shady deal going down. Money on the table. A dimly lit room. A few nervous, armed men keeping watch. Is it the back room of a seedy tavern? A gangster’s basement? And what’s with all the pointing? A few weeks ago, my husband and I had the chance to visit Rome […]
May
08
The Self-absorbed Narcissus
posted by laurieetta
“For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man who looks intently at his natural face in a mirror. For he looks at himself and goes away and at once forgets what he was like.” – James 1:23-24 (ESV) In the dimly lit chamber of introspection, […]
April
29
Can You See Me?
posted by laurieetta
Today I want to reflect on the poignant painting, The Rich Man and the Poor Lazarus, by Dutch painter Hendrick ter Brugghen based on the story found in Luke 16:19-31. Brugghen was renowned for his depictions of everyday life and religious themes. He was inspired by Caravaggio, one of my favorite artists. Caravaggio’s influence is […]
April
13
The Road of Disappointment
posted by laurieetta
A few days after Jesus has risen, we hear the story of two of Jesus’ followers walking down the road to a town called Emmaus, dejected by the events of the past few days. Along the way they are joined by Jesus, but they do not recognize him. They convince Jesus to stay with them […]
March
28
Whose Agenda?
posted by laurieetta
“The one I kiss is the man; arrest him and lead him away under guard.”The words of Judas found in Mark 14:44 This dramatic scene depicts the moment Jesus is arrested; the immediate chaos caused by Judas’ kiss that identified him as the Son of God to the soldiers. The seven figures in the painting […]
May
19
As One with Authority
posted by laurieetta
If you have been reading my devotions, you know I love the Italian artist Caravaggio’s work. This painting wasn’t done by him, but the artist, Orazio Borgianni, used Caravaggio as inspiration. That is why we see dramatic lights and darks employed in this composition. Borgianni was an Italian painter as well but spent much time […]
February
12
How Can This Be?
posted by laurieetta
Caravaggio is one of my favorite artists. I have a book of his complete works and I never tire from looking at them. This painting is called the Deposition (meaning “burial” in this context) and is considered one of Caravaggio’s greatest masterpieces. It was painted around 1435 and currently hangs in the Vatican Museum. Caravaggio does […]
April
17
“My Lord and My God”
posted by laurieetta
Once again, we’re looking at one of my favorite artists: Caravaggio. This large painting tells the story of the disciple Thomas who wasn’t around when Jesus first appeared after his death. Thomas wants proof; he wants to put his fingers in Christ’s wounds—then he will believe. Soon after saying this, he gets his chance. On […]
February
07
Thank You for the Thorn
posted by laurieetta
If you’ve been following me at all, you know that Caravaggio is one of my favorite artists. This particular masterpiece is entitled, “The Crowning of Thorns” and is one of two pieces that he did on the subject of the torture of our Christ. Caravaggio, like many other Renaissance artists, often used sculptures as models […]
December
23
A New Set of Eyes
posted by laurieetta
We’ve met Caravaggio before when we looked at The Denial of St. Peter (November 25, 2018). You may recall that he was quite a character, often having run-ins with the law. So, it seems appropriate that this painting of his not only caused a scandal when first released but continues to be surrounded by mystery […]
November
10
Who? Me?
posted by laurieetta
While most of his contemporaries were painting in Baroque style, which was highly ornate and extravagant, Caravaggio had begun to switch to “chiaroscuro,” a technique that depends on the dramatic use of light and dark. Caravaggio’s life was quite the story. He had many run-ins with the law and was arrested on several occasions. In […]
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