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MICHAEL ANGELO AMEREGI, DA
CARAVAGGIO..

MICHAEL ANGELO AMEREGI, surnamed CARAVAGG10, from the place of his birth, a village in the Milanese, was born in 1569. This painter, though gifted with considerable talent, from his want of taste was not able to obtain the rank which nature appears to have assigned him. He studied for a time the graceful manner of Georgione, whom he imitated and surpassed; but the desire of signalizing himself, led him to establish a style of his own, in which energy and truth appear more conspicuous than variety and manner. Little solicitous to please," he strove to astonish, and attained his aim by the extravagant opposition to light and shade. The seductive force of his pencil, the boldness of his design, and propriety of his attitude, drew after him a number of followers, who, for a time, forgot that the undignified character which he gave to his productions, by the servile imitation of forms, indiscriminately picked from the dregs of the people, reflected disgrace on the sublime

art.

Subjects of a tragical nature seem most fitted to the genius of Caravaggio; and to this taste his violent and irascible temper naturally contributed. He was originally a labourer, and employed to carry the materials used by artists in frescos, when, feeling a strong disposition for painting, he devoted his nights to the study of design' His talents soon developed themselves, and his irritable and malevolent spirit having involved him in a quarrel, which compelled him to seek refuge in Venice, he was en

abled to bring them to a degree of perfection. From Venice he travelled to Rome, where, through necessity, he was compelled to paint for Josepin; when, fortunately, one of his pictures was noticed by the Cardinal del Monte, who drew him from indigence. Caravaggio was very industrious, and obtained in a few years considerable celebrity; but his fiery disposition plunged him in continual broils with his brother painters. Meeting one day Josepin, whom he detested, he loaded him with abuse, drew his sword, and killed a young man, who attempted to assist his adversary. Obliged to quit Rome, he sought an asylum in a neighbouring state, where his pardon was procured; but he had scarcely obtained his freedom, than he sought Josepin, and challenged him to fight a duel.This Josepin refused, on the ground that he was a knight. Caravaggio, irritated at this pretext, set off for Malta, underwent the usual ceremonies, and was thought worthy by his bravery of being armed Chevalier Servant. But when on the point of quitting the island, he insulted one of the principals of the order, and was thrown into prison, from whence he escaped at the risk of his life. Pursued by the guard, he was fired at, and wounded, and again imprisoned. But his courage was undaunted; he perforated the walls of his dungeon, and was enabled to escape. A felucca conveyed him to the shores of Italy; but, on his landing, he was surrounded by a guard, and seized as a pirate. The error was soon discovered, but in the contest he lost the little treasure that he possessed. So many accumulated misfortunes plunged him in a state of despondency: abandoned, and without resources, he wandered for some time about the country, when, finding himself attacked by a violent fever, he reached with some difficulty Porto-Ercole, where he died in his fortieth year.

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