Caravaggio

Caravaggio has long been regarded as a revolutionary painter by virtue of his artistic language, which has aroused interest, involvement and authentic passion in patrons, collectors, writers and simple art lovers in various periods. The purpose of these two volumes is to shed light on his pictorial methods through technical research on the twenty-two unquestionably autograph works in Rome.

Comprising entries of these twenty-two paintings, this second volume works backwards to trace the material and therefore mental process that led the artist to the creation of some of the greatest masterpieces in the history of art. The fascinating journey developed through technical research takes us from the surface to the hidden layers of the paintings by means of infrared and radiographic techniques, close-up photography and the analysis of materials. Art-historical researchers, technical art historians, conservation scientists and restorers combine to tell a multidisciplinary tale that reveals many new elements and offers an overview of this extraordinary artist’s painting in all its uniqueness and complexity.

Contents

Editors’ Note

Boy with a Basket of Fruit
Kristina Herrmann Fiore

Painting technique
Maria Beatrice De Ruggieri

Conservation report
Paola Tollo

Self-Portrait as Bacchus
Kristina Herrmann Fiore

Painting technique
Maria Beatrice De Ruggieri

Conservation report
Carlo Giantomassi, Donatella Zari

Rest on the Flight into Egypt
Andrea G. De Marchi

Painting technique
Marco Cardinali

Conservation report
Giulia Silvia Ghia

Penitent Magdalene
Andrea G. De Marchi

Painting technique
Marco Cardinali

Conservation report
Giulia Silvia Ghia

Fortune Teller
Sergio Guarino

Painting technique
Marco Cardinali

Conservation report
Nicola Salini

Jupiter, Neptune, and Pluto
Rossella Vodret

Painting technique
Maria Beatrice De Ruggieri

Conservation report
Gabriella Gaggi

The Martyrdom of St Matthew
Rossella Vodret

Painting technique
Marco Cardinali

Conservation report
Anna Maria Marcone

The Calling of St Matthew
Rossella Vodret

Painting technique
Marco Cardinali

Conservation report
Anna Maria Marcone

Judith Beheading Holofernes
Rossella Vodret

Painting technique
Maria Beatrice De Ruggieri

Conservation report
Carlo Giantomassi, Donatella Zari

Conversion of St Paul
Belinda Granata

Painting technique
Claudio Falcucci

Conservation report
Valeria Merlini, Daniela Storti

St Matthew and the Angel
Rossella Vodret

Painting technique
Marco Cardinali

Conservation report
Anna Maria Marcone

St John the Baptist
Sergio Guarino

Painting technique
Marco Cardinali

Conservation report
Nicola Salini

Entombment
Alessandra Rodolfo

Painting technique
Ulderico Santamaria, Fabio Morresi, Krystina Mlynarska, Fabio Castro

Conservation report
Alessandra Zarelli

Conversion of St Paul
Maria Grazia Bernardini

Painting technique
Maria Beatrice De Ruggieri

Crucifixion of St Peter
Maria Grazia Bernardini

Painting technique
Maria Beatrice De Ruggieri

Conservation report
Anna Maria Brignardello, Alessandra Sorrentino

The Madonna of Loreto (Madonna of the Pilgrims)
Marco Bona Castellotti

Painting technique
Maria Beatrice De Ruggieri

Conservation report
Valeria Merlini, Daniela Storti

St John the Baptist
Angela Negro

Painting technique
Maria Beatrice De Ruggieri

Conservation report
Paola Tollo

Madonna dei Palafrenieri
Rossella Vodret

Painting technique
Marco Cardinali

Conservation report
Carlo Giantomassi, Donatella Zari

St Jerome Writing
Giorgio Leone

Painting technique
Maria Beatrice De Ruggieri

Conservation report
Carlo Giantomassi, Donatella Zari

St Francis in Meditation
Rossella Vodret

Painting technique
Marco Cardinali

Conservation report
Carlo Giantomassi, Donatella Zari

David with the Head of Goliath
Rossella Vodret

Painting technique
Marco Cardinali

Conservation report
Paola Tollo

St John the Baptist
Rossella Vodret

Painting technique
Maria Beatrice De Ruggieri

Conservation report
Carlo Giantomassi, Donatella Zari

Bibliography