Caravaggio - paintings of armor and edged weapons 1590s-1610

shayde78 · 21st August 2020, 08:29 PM

Cardsharps; c.1594

I always was fascinated by the hilt at the waist of the young man in the foreground. I'd be grateful if anyone could find an actual dagger with a similar hilt. It would be easy to dismiss this as an artists simply being careless, but as you see subsequent works, I think you'll agree Caravaggio's attention to detail is hard to question.

shayde78 · 21st August 2020, 08:35 PM

Martyrdom of St. Mathew; c. 1599/1600

This was the painting that made Caravaggio the 'most famous painter in Rome' because it departed so drastically form the poised, kind of artificial, posing of true Renaissance works and introduced a dramatic and dynamic style of composition that would inspire the Baroque generation.

The swords depicted are typical 1500s despite the time period and location being represented (1st Century CE, Ethiopia).

shayde78 · 21st August 2020, 08:44 PM

The Conversion of St. Paul; c. 1600/01

This, and the next image, show a common subject for painters of Christian-era Europe. One can see some examples of armor components in this first painting.

shayde78 · 21st August 2020, 08:46 PM

The Conversion of St. Paul; 1602

One can see a clearly represented hilt here with a simple, albeit large, side ring.

shayde78 · 21st August 2020, 08:51 PM

The Taking of Christ; 1602

Here we can really start to see some of the detail portrayed in the representation of armor. I particularly like that the leather straps are clearly shown. The curl at the end is simply something that struck me as an extra touch of realism.

shayde78 · 21st August 2020, 08:56 PM

The Sacrifice of Isaac; 1602/1603

I debated including this one as the knife shown is entirely simple. However, as the surviving examples we have from any historical period are those that skew toward the exceptional (and thus worth preserving through the ages), I felt it important to allow this humble tool be shown here. This may be considered a typical simple Italian shepherd's knife from the early 17th Century.

shayde78 · 21st August 2020, 08:58 PM

The Crowning with Thorns; c. 1602/1603

Again, here is another good showing of armor. Additionally, I like that we see how one might wear their shirt with a cuirass.

21st August 2020, 08:29 PM	#1
shayde78 Member Join Date: Mar 2017 Posts: 445	Cardsharps; 1594 Cardsharps; c.1594 I always was fascinated by the hilt at the waist of the young man in the foreground. I'd be grateful if anyone could find an actual dagger with a similar hilt. It would be easy to dismiss this as an artists simply being careless, but as you see subsequent works, I think you'll agree Caravaggio's attention to detail is hard to question. Attached Images

21st August 2020, 08:35 PM	#2
shayde78 Member Join Date: Mar 2017 Posts: 445	The Martyrdom of St. Mathew; c. 1599/1600 Martyrdom of St. Mathew; c. 1599/1600 This was the painting that made Caravaggio the 'most famous painter in Rome' because it departed so drastically form the poised, kind of artificial, posing of true Renaissance works and introduced a dramatic and dynamic style of composition that would inspire the Baroque generation. The swords depicted are typical 1500s despite the time period and location being represented (1st Century CE, Ethiopia). Attached Images

21st August 2020, 08:44 PM	#3
shayde78 Member Join Date: Mar 2017 Posts: 445	The Conversion of St. Paul; c. 1600/1601 The Conversion of St. Paul; c. 1600/01 This, and the next image, show a common subject for painters of Christian-era Europe. One can see some examples of armor components in this first painting. Attached Images

21st August 2020, 08:46 PM	#4
shayde78 Member Join Date: Mar 2017 Posts: 445	The Conversion of St. Paul; c. 1602 The Conversion of St. Paul; 1602 One can see a clearly represented hilt here with a simple, albeit large, side ring. Attached Images

21st August 2020, 08:51 PM	#5
shayde78 Member Join Date: Mar 2017 Posts: 445	The Taking of Christ; 1602 The Taking of Christ; 1602 Here we can really start to see some of the detail portrayed in the representation of armor. I particularly like that the leather straps are clearly shown. The curl at the end is simply something that struck me as an extra touch of realism. Attached Images

21st August 2020, 08:56 PM	#6
shayde78 Member Join Date: Mar 2017 Posts: 445	The Sacrifice of Isaac; c. 1602/1603 The Sacrifice of Isaac; 1602/1603 I debated including this one as the knife shown is entirely simple. However, as the surviving examples we have from any historical period are those that skew toward the exceptional (and thus worth preserving through the ages), I felt it important to allow this humble tool be shown here. This may be considered a typical simple Italian shepherd's knife from the early 17th Century. Attached Images

21st August 2020, 08:58 PM	#7
shayde78 Member Join Date: Mar 2017 Posts: 445	The Crowning with Thorns; c. 1602/1603 The Crowning with Thorns; c. 1602/1603 Again, here is another good showing of armor. Additionally, I like that we see how one might wear their shirt with a cuirass. Attached Images