Tag Archives: Caravaggio

April 13

The Road of Disappointment

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?

“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

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?

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”

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

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 […]

August 01

“Hey, you. Come with me.”

This is a shady scene. Money on the table, a dimly lit room, armed men looking nervous. Is it the backroom of some seedy tavern or the basement of a gangster? And what’s with all the pointing? When I was in Rome this past June, I had the joy of meeting up with my sister. […]

December 23

A New Set of Eyes

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?

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 […]