Review

 David with the Head of Goliath, c. 1609. Oil on panel

Watching a PBS program called “Simon Schama’s - Power of Art”, I learned that although one of my favorite artists was gloriously talented, he was also a youthful offender - violent and incorrigible. Not a “Denis the Menace” (he murdered a rival) but, as Schama labels him - a thug. I was shocked!  Does his anger and madness show in Caravaggio’s art?  Maybe.  

Considered part of the early Italian Baroque style of painting, his work, perhaps as a way of seeking redemption, focused on biblical themes - but, if you look at the faces, you will notice that there are no cherubs or saints, his paintings are inhabited by the people that he found in the local taverns with all their blemishes and wrinkles.  I’ve found his work to be vibrant and alive regardless of its theme - card players or John the Baptist - full of energy, often full of violence, always very up close and in your face. 

Schama narrates the hour and takes a gossipy, anecdotal look at the short life of Michelangelo Caravaggio,  (1571 - 1610),  and includes some re enactments to give background as to why/how certain paintings were created - like “Calling of Saint Matthew” and  his “David with the Head of Goliath“.

BTW - Caravaggio was like Alfred Hitchcock, who always had a walk on or walkthrough in his movies and TV shows - the artist liked to paint himself in the middle of his scenes - with a table of card sharks, with of a group of musicians and most notably, he serves himself up as the “…Head of Goliath”.  

The 8 week PBS series will present the same 8 artists that are highlighted in Mr. Schama’s book of the same name, “Power of Art”:

Caravaggio, Bernini, Rembrandt, David, Turner, Van Gogh, Picasso and Rothko(Next, the Baroque sculptor and architect of 17th century Rome Bernini)    www.caravaggio.com

www.pbs.org

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