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Caravaggio (1573-1610) 
Aliases: Michelangelo Amarigi; Michelangelo Amerighi; Michelangelo Amerigi; Michelangelo Amorigi; Michelangelo Caraca da Caravaggio; "il" Caravaggio; Michelangelo Merisi Caravaggio; Michelangelo Merisi "da" Caravaggio; Michelangelo Maresi; Michelangelo Marigi; Michelangelo Merighi; Michelangelo Merigi; Michelangelo Merisi; Michelangelo Merizi; Michelangelo Merisi da Caravaggio; Michelangelo Morigi
Professions: Painter
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Michelangelo Merisi da Caravaggio (Milan or Caravaggio 1571-1610 Porto Ercole)
Biography: Caravaggio
(b Caravaggio, Italy, 1573; d 1610) Italian painter. Born Michelangelo Merisi, Caravaggio is infamous for his dramatic life mirroring the drama found in his works. His work is primarily known for his realistic portrayal of people and objects, an expert use of foreshortening and the theatrical handling of his subject matter. Moving to Rome in the early 1590s, his focus was on the still life depiction of fruit and flowers. Caravaggio’s choice of subject matter later evolved into figures participating in dramatic narrative scenes. Early on, Cardinal del Monte commissioned his work. His life took a dramatic turn in 1606 when, having killed a man in a duel, he relocated to Naples. In the following years Caravaggio painted altarpieces and other religious works, became a Knight of Malta, went to prison, traveled to Sicily and much of southern Italy. Caravaggio died of a fever in 1610.
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