CABAVAGGIO, ka'ra-va'jo, properly MichelAngelo Merisi or Mebisio (improperly Amerioi, Merioi, or. Mobigt) Da (c. 1565-1609). Eminent Italian painter, founder of the naturalist school. He is usually named after his hometown of Caravaggio, in the province of Bergamo, where his father was master of the house and architect to the Marquis of Caravaggio. According to the most recent research, he probably studied for four or five years in Milan, perhaps with one of the Campi (q.v.), then spent some time in Venice. Around 1585-87 he appeared in Rome, where he was for a time associated with Cesare d'Arpino and Prospero Orsi, but he persisted in following his own path. After many vicissitudes, he found in the person of Cardinal del Monte a patron who ensured Mb's success. His talent developed very quickly. Putting aside all traditions and appealing only to nature, he became the leader of the naturalists, as opposed to the mannerists. It became very popular and even the Eclecticista imitated it. But the animosities he excited and his own passionate character involved him in constant quarrels, although ho. certainly did not provoke all the quarrels that are attributed to it. Thus, he would have challenged Guido Reni, who had imitated his work, to a duel and would have chased the harmless Guercino from Rome. It is true, however, that he killed a comrade during a quarrel over a game and that he had to leave Rome for this crime. It was protected and hidden near Palestrina by Duke Marzio Colonna. He painted for this nobleman until his departure for Naples. In this city, he found a grateful public and from his activity was born a naturalist school of great importance. He then went to Malta, where he painted two portraits of the Grand Master of...... middle of paper ...... London has a characteristic example in "Christ and the Apostles at Emmaus". Caravaggio also painted some portraits of great realism and strength. Among his portraits of himself, we note the youthful specimen preserved in the Uffizi (Florence), but his most beautiful portrait is probably that of the Grand Master of the Knights of Malta, in the Louvre. Although he had no direct pupils, Caravaggio was of the order great influence on the development of modern art. Even the main pupils of the Carracci, such as Guido Reni and Guercino (q.v.), studied his art, and Domenichino (q.v.) was influenced by it. He can rightly be considered the founder and leader of the naturalist school (see Painting), and as an advocate of a return to nature his influence extended beyond Italy to the North , where he influenced Rubens and was the precursor of the great Dutch. masters of light and shadow.