6 iconic Caravaggio paintings that are a sight to behold

An Italian painter who changed the way people saw art was Caravaggio. He had a rather unique style and ability to infuse life into mere canvases and oil paintings, and his use of light and shadow, the Chiaroscuro technique, was intense, lifelike, and added drama and movement to the artworks.
And Caravaggio did not just paint characters, he painted stories and epic figures, and gave them a real, emotional appeal.Here we mention 6 Caravaggio paintings that are a sight to behold.

One of the most iconic paintings by Caravaggio, and a masterpiece no less, is ‘The Calling of Saint Matthew’, a Biblical painting that shows the moment Jesus calls Matthew, an ordinary tax collector, to become his disciple.
The use of light in this painting is nothing short of magic, with a bright light straight on Matthew, dulling others around, and the expression on Matthew’s face is full of shock and hesitation, which draws people into the scene.

One of the most powerful, iconic, and bold paintings by Caravaggio is this one. It shows the moment when Judith killed Holofernes, an Assyrian general, to avenge honour.
This painting seems so real, almost as if a photograph of a very critical scene was captured, and presented as a painting. It shows Judith and her maid in the act of killing Holofernes, with their expressions stern and full of anger, while Holofernes accepts defeat.

Another creation by Caravaggio, this one is a rather odd self-portrait that has left people confused even today.
It is believed that this is one of Caravaggio’s first self-portraits, one that he did after recovering from an illness, and people can see and spot the flushed cheeks, an eerie expression, and weirdly tinted lips, which indicate he has been sickly. The skin is pale, the eyes seem to be calling for help, and the work of light and shadow is simply outstanding.

Caravaggio's take on the mythological figure who turned men into stone is this one. Caravaggio’s portrayal of ‘Medusa’ is rather scary, with her head severed and a terrified expression on her face. There are snakes on her head, her eyes seem fearful, and it is almost like the viewer can feel how much pain and suffering Medusa was in through the painting.
It is also done on a circular canvas, making it different from the regular rectangle painting.

Another iconic painting, ‘Narcissus’ is the story of the man who fell in love with his own reflection, and adored himself for days.
Caravaggio painted Narcissus looking at his own image in the water, and the painting looks absolutely surreal. In Narcissus' eyes, and his body language, people can see a feeling of love for his own self, and an obsession that would not leave.

Another heroic painting, ‘David with the Head of Goliath’ features a Biblical hero with the head of a monster.
Goliath is shown like a wild man, with hair and beard disheveled, and David, with a hero-like glory, but also a disappointed face, holds the severed head in his hand. The anatomy, the expressions, the colour and light, it is all so beautiful, that people run to see this artwork.

(All images from: Caravaggio/Org/Website)