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Saint John the Baptist in the Wilderness, 1604-05

Michelangelo Merisi da Caravaggio (Italian, 1571-1610)

From , former About.com Guide

Image © The Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art, Kansas City; used with permission

Michelangelo Merisi da Caravaggio (Italian, 1571-1610). Saint John the Baptist in the Wilderness, 1604-05. Oil on canvas. 172.7 x 132.1 cm (68 x 52 in.). Purchase: William Rockhill Nelson Trust, 52-25. Photograph by Jamison Miller.

Image © The Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art, Kansas City

In observance of the the 400th anniversary of the Italian Baroque master's death, the Scuderie del Quirinale, Rome has organized the major International exhibition Caravaggio. As is common knowledge, Michelangelo Merisi da Caravaggio (1571-1610) lived hard, died young, took long breaks from painting (due to the first attribute) and didn't have a tremendous output as a result. Over the centuries, however, many more works than he could have physically produced have been attributed to him.

Caravaggio aims--and succeeds--in displaying only paintings authenticated to be of Caravaggio's hand. The 24 select pieces illustrate the full scope of his short, brilliant career, and represent a phenomenal amount of goodwill amongst lending museums around the globe. You won't see the likes of this exhibition again, so please catch the show in Rome if possible.

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