Caravaggio

Caravaggio was born Michelangelo Merisi in 1571 in Milan and became one of the most revolutionary painters of the Baroque period. He trained in Lombardy before moving to Rome, where his dramatic style quickly set him apart from his contemporaries. Caravaggio rejected idealized beauty in favor of raw realism, often painting ordinary people as religious figures. His intense use of light and shadow, known as chiaroscuro, transformed the visual language of European painting. 

Despite artistic success, Caravaggio lived a turbulent life marked by conflict, exile, and violence. His volatile temperament frequently brought him into trouble with the law. Even so, powerful patrons continued to support his work due to its striking originality. His later years were spent moving between cities while seeking a pardon from Rome. Caravaggio died in 1610 under mysterious circumstances. His influence reshaped religious art and inspired generations of artists across Europe.