Hello Crime Stoppers!

I’d like to take a New York Minute and talk about Michelangelo. No…the other Michelangelo.

I am talking about Michelangelo Caravaggio. I am certain there were even OTHER Michelangelos…I mean probably hugely popular name right? But THIS Michelangelo had a bit of a temper. I mean Mr. Sistine Chapel Michelangelo got pissed off, I am sure, but Michelangelo Caravaggio took temper to another level.

This Michelangelo was a brilliant painter!

This Michelangelo was beloved by the Popes!

This Michelangelo was well known! Respected far and wide!

However…

This Michelangelo also had a temper

This Michelangelo tried to cool off his temper with multiple pints of beer. (Spoiler! It didn’t work!) This, combined with the shortest temper in town, was not always beloved by his mates…

Actually, he owed a bit of money to folks here and there, so he wasn’t their best friend either.

Now that you mention it, I am certain there were a few other folks Caravaggio may have gotten trouble with!

Anywho…long story short….brilliant artist…crazy personal life…Two sides to every coin is all I’m saying…no one is an angel.

Well, Mr. C. was going along great in Rome…painting masterpieces…winning hearts…until one evening at the pub…there was...well… an altercation.

Gentle Reader: What kind of altercation?

Eric C Hudson: Well..he kinda killed a guy.

GR: What the hey?!?!

ECH: Yeah…um a bit of a dust up at the local pub I believe…and by happenstance…this guy ended up dead.

GR: Wait, wait WHAT? “And by happenstance this guy ended up dead?!” I have NEVER read those words in a Raphael biography! Or how about the Impressionist period? “Yeah Berthe Morisot just went all crazy business over Monet and well…by happenstance Mr Waterlillies ended up dead!” NO! This doesn’t normally happen!!

ECH: Well, what do you want me to say? Caravaggio just couldn’t keep it in line! He was a passionate dude! And NOW he has a murder under his belt!

GR: Jeez Louise fine…so now our beloved and celebrated painter has “Murder” on his CV? That’s just great...what’s next?

ECH: Yeah…and with the increasing penalties against murder in Rome, Mr. C. decided he wasn’t going to wait around to get caught. So he gathered his gear and moved south to Naples, Italy. Just far enough outside of Rome that he may be able to leave his problems behind him. At least for a bit.

GR: Naples?

ECH: Yep…Naples…He did some amazing stuff while he was down there…I mean look up the Seven Mercies. (there is a super cool book about it too! Ask me some time…we’ll have coffee!)

While Caravaggio was laying low in Naples, he received a mysterious message from the Knights of St. John’s Co-Cathedral in Malta!

GR: Oooh! Mysterious!

ECH: It was an invitation! They adored him and his brilliance and requested his presence at their Cathedral.

GR: Their Cathedral? In Malta? What for?

ECH: They invited him to be their artist in residence to paint an altarpiece for their cathedral! They would welcome him with open arms!

Gentle Reader: Wow really? The Knights of St. John’s Co-Cathedral? No kidding?

ECH: Totally Impressive Right?

GR: So 2 quick questions….

ECH: Hit me

GR: Who the Sam Hill are the Knights of St. John’s Co-Cathedral? OH…and where is Malta? I have a hard time finding things outside my own home.

ECH: Great questions!

references

https://www.stjohnscocathedral.com/the-co-cathedral/caravaggio/

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saint_Jerome_Writing_(Caravaggio,_Valletta)

author in person visit!