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Caravaggio In Malta

Colour Malta FEAG 2019-1

Caravaggio's time in Malta, between 1607 and 1608, was marked by both artistic success and personal difficulties. He had fled Rome after committing murder and was seeking the protection of the Knights of Malta, who he thought would give him a chance to start over.

Initially, Caravaggio was well-received in Malta and was even commissioned to paint two large works for the Church of St. John in Valletta, which still hang there today. These paintings, "The Beheading of St. John the Baptist" and "St. Jerome Writing," are considered some of his finest works.

However, Caravaggio's hot temper and reckless behavior soon got him into trouble once again. He was arrested several times, once for assaulting a fellow knight and another time for drawing his sword on a senior knight during a dispute. He was eventually expelled from the order and had to flee Malta once again.

Despite the difficulties he faced, Caravaggio's time in Malta was a productive period for his art. He continued to refine his use of chiaroscuro, a technique that uses dramatic contrasts of light and shadow to create a sense of depth and drama in his paintings. He also experimented with new subject matter, such as "The Beheading of St. John the Baptist," which was an unusual choice for a church painting at the time.

Caravaggio's influence can still be seen in Malta today, particularly in the Church of St. John and the cathedral in Mdina, where several of his followers painted in a similar style. His legacy is also celebrated in the Caravaggio Foundation, which was established in 2013 to promote the study and appreciation of his work in Malta.

Overall, Caravaggio's time in Malta was a tumultuous period in his life, but it was also a time of artistic growth and achievement that left a lasting impact on the island's cultural heritage.