The Death of the Virgin.

Post by **jones jones** » Wed Apr 23, 2014 11:53 am

This is an oil on canvas in the Baroque style painted by Michelangelo Merisi da Caravaggio titled “The Death of the Virgin”. It was painted between 1601-1603 and can be found in the Musée du Louvre, Paris, France.

It was commissioned by a wealthy papal lawyer as an altarpiece for his chapel. Once finished it was rejected by the parish for a couple of reasons. Firstly at the time, whether or not Mary had actually underwent death before her “departure” was a moot point. It was assumed by most Catholics that she had been alive. (In 1997, Pope John Paul II affirmed that Mary did experience a natural death before she went to heaven.)

Thank the pope as Lola used to say!

Secondly the painting was unfit for the chapel as it showed Mary’s bare legs. If you look closely at the painting you can just see a flash of flesh above her ankles. But worst of all it was rumoured that Caravaggio used the body of a pregnant prostitute who had drowned in the Tiber as a model for the Virgin’s corpse.

Now, seeing as how long it took him to finish the work he must have painted Mary first or else he had the body embalmed or whatever it was they did then to preserve a corpse.

The painting is rather dark and rather sad (the scarlet drapes hanging from the invisible ceiling excepted) with John standing over her and the Magdalene seated in front with her head bowed. Everyone in the painting including her son’s followers appear struck by grief and none seem particularly happy, so I guess Mary must have been dead when she died ... I mean before she was beamed up to heaven so to speak.

But here's the best part. Even though he was a famous painter, Caravaggio was by all accounts quite a thug and was notorious for fighting. After killing a couple of dudes in a duel instead of inflicting symbolic wounding, even his patrons couldn’t help him and he was forced to flee to Naples where he was safe from the Roman authorities. Here his connections with the Colonna family got him many church commissions. Small wonder he later went to Sicily ... I mean "connections with the Colonna family?

After a while he went to Malta and got involved with the Knights of Malta, where their Grand Master, obviously impressed at having a famous artist as his new best friend, got Caravaggio inducted as a knight. Despite this within a short while he was arrested and jailed, probably as a result of yet another brawl in which a knight was seriously wounded. He managed to escape and was expelled from the order ‘as a foul & rotten member.”

How the mighty have fallen! From the greatest painter in Rome to foul & rotten. Tsk tsk. He later had the chutzpah to return to Rome where he eventually died from lead poisoning. No not a bullet ... real lead poisoning which was probably a result of sniffing paint up his nose instead of coke.

Lady J · Post by **Lady J** » Wed Apr 23, 2014 7:50 pm

I luv it! It is a fascinating story and You told it so well.

Do You know the actual time span...it seemed like he accomplished much-

"But here's the best part. Even though he was a famous painter, Caravaggio was by all accounts quite a thug and was notorious for fighting. After killing a couple of dudes in a duel instead of inflicting symbolic wounding, even his patrons couldn’t help him and he was forced to flee to Naples where he was safe from the Roman authorities. Here his connections with the Colonna family got him many church commissions. Small wonder he later went to Sicily ... I mean "connections with the Colonna family?

After a while he went to Malta and got involved with the Knights of Malta, where their Grand Master, obviously impressed at having a famous artist as his new best friend, got Caravaggio inducted as a knight. Despite this within a short while he was arrested and jailed, probably as a result of yet another brawl in which a knight was seriously wounded. He managed to escape and was expelled from the order ‘as a foul & rotten member.”

Great find Jj!

Post by **jones jones** » Thu Apr 24, 2014 9:47 am

Lady J;1452430 wrote: I luv it! It is a fascinating story and You told it so well.

Do You know the actual time span...it seemed like he accomplished much-

"But here's the best part. Even though he was a famous painter, Caravaggio was by all accounts quite a thug and was notorious for fighting. After killing a couple of dudes in a duel instead of inflicting symbolic wounding, even his patrons couldn’t help him and he was forced to flee to Naples where he was safe from the Roman authorities. Here his connections with the Colonna family got him many church commissions. Small wonder he later went to Sicily ... I mean "connections with the Colonna family?

After a while he went to Malta and got involved with the Knights of Malta, where their Grand Master, obviously impressed at having a famous artist as his new best friend, got Caravaggio inducted as a knight. Despite this within a short while he was arrested and jailed, probably as a result of yet another brawl in which a knight was seriously wounded. He managed to escape and was expelled from the order ‘as a foul & rotten member.”

Great find Jj!

I guess Lulu ... but art isn't big on FG.

along-for-the-ride · Post by **along-for-the-ride** » Sat Apr 26, 2014 4:30 am

The painting is interesting. It could have just been entitled, "Grief".

Most all talented people were/are not perfect.

AnneBoleyn · Post by **AnneBoleyn** » Sat Apr 26, 2014 6:52 am

I was an Art History major as an undergrad, specialty--Medieval/Renaissance, so I love this kind of thread JJ. Many thanks.

High Threshold · Post by **High Threshold** » Sat Apr 26, 2014 11:09 am

Oooooops! I thought it said, "The Death of Virginity". Sorry.

Post by **jones jones** » Mon Apr 28, 2014 6:09 am

AnneBoleyn;1452607 wrote: I was an Art History major as an undergrad, specialty--Medieval/Renaissance, so I love this kind of thread JJ. Many thanks.

Art History Major ... Wow, The Chosen is impressed. Then my dear I shall post more of these ... just for you!

Post by **jones jones** » Mon Apr 28, 2014 6:10 am

along-for-the-ride;1452603 wrote: The painting is interesting. It could have just been entitled, "Grief".

Most all talented people were/are not perfect.

Exactly ...'cept for me of course. :yh_rotfl

Post by **jones jones** » Mon Apr 28, 2014 6:12 am

High Threshold;1452619 wrote: Oooooops! I thought it said, "The Death of Virginity". Sorry.

Well I can probably post an image like that but I doubt the boss would be mpressed.