Caravaggio 3 (evening)
£10
3. Salome: the Regret of Revenge
Immediately Jesus had been recognised at The Supper at Emmaus, he
disappeared. And not long after he painted it, Caravaggio was forced to flee
Rome, having murdered a man under unexplained circumstances. For the rest of
his life he moved from one place to another, getting into fight after fight, while
his paintings gradually simplified. His life might have been complex, but as
the master learnt what was needed to communicate, the range of colours
decrease, the details are seen to be unnecessary, and the brush strokes relax. The
mood becomes one of regret, and of longing for justice. In this last talk we
will consider whether we should read his paintings through his life – or vice
versa – or whether this is simply his skill at pinpointing the most
arresting aspect of any narrative.