Summary
Michelangelo Merisi, the man who would become the famed but troubled artist known as Caravaggio, worked extensively in Rome. Known as the “Bad Boy of the Baroque,” Caravaggio’s works date from the late 16th and early 17th centuries.
Although he originally trained in Milan, he worked extensively in Rome, where some of his most notable masterpieces, which are among the best-known paintings from the Baroque Art period, can be found decorating the city’s churches and galleries.
Borghese Gallery
The Borghese Gallery, one of Rome’s premier museums, contains almost a dozen Caravaggio paintings, making it an excellent place to start your Caravaggio journey.
Some of the more famous Caravaggio artworks on display include “Boy with a Basket of Fruit,” “David with the Head of Goliath,” “Self-portrait as Bacchus,” and his portrait of Pope Paul V.
Reservations for the Borghese Gallery are mandatory, and your ticket allows a two-hour visit. To lessen travel stress, consider purchasing your tickets online in advance from Select Italy.
Church of San Luigi dei Francesi
The best location to find Caravaggio paintings in Rome is the small church of San Luigi dei Francesi, located near Piazza Navona. Inside the Contarelli Chapel, you can admire the master’s “Saint Matthew” cycle, which comprises “The Calling of Saint Matthew,” “Inspiration of Saint Matthew,” and “The Martyrdom of Saint Matthew.”
Entrance to the church is free; however, there is a nominal fee to activate the lights for proper viewing of the paintings.
Capitoline Museums
The Capitoline Museums house two notable paintings by Caravaggio. “The Fortune Teller” is a work Caravaggio executed twice, with the first version located in the Capitoline and the second housed in the Louvre in Paris. Additionally, Caravaggio’s “John the Baptist (With a Ram)” is also on display in the Capitoline Museums.
Church of Santa Maria del Popolo
The Cerasi Chapel in Santa Maria del Popolo, an unassuming church on the north side of Piazza del Popolo, is an ideal location for a quick viewing of Caravaggio’s works.
The chapel features two significant paintings: “Conversion of Saint Paul on the Road to Damascus” and the very renowned “Crucifixion of Saint Peter.” Admission is free to the public.
Vatican Museums
Within the Vatican Museums, you can find Caravaggio’s piece “The Entombment of Christ.” Situated in the Pinacoteca (art gallery), this well-known and emotive work is often overlooked as visitors hurriedly make their way to the Sistine Chapel and other major exhibitions in the museum.
However, this notable artwork is definitely worth seeking out for its exceptional detail and emotional depth, allowing you to enjoy a moment of tranquility away from the crowds. The gallery features works by many other distinguished artists including Giotto, Raphael, Perugino, and da Vinci.
The best strategy for avoiding long entrance lines is to purchase your ticket in advance, up to 60 days before your visit. You can get Vatican Museum tickets online from Select Italy.
