Status of Artists in Europe

Status of Artists in Europe

Throughout history, art has always had an important role in society; however beginning in the Renaissance, art became a more prominent feature.  The Renaissance was an age of flourishing art which is a stark contrast to the medieval period where the arts were much more restrictive and illustrative rather than expressive or humanistic.^[1] In the dark ages, art was focused primarily on religion and had much less of an impact on society. Not only did the art and architecture begin to flourish after the dark ages but artists were beginning to be respected much more and found themselves moving up the social hierarchy. The growth of the arts was linked directly to the rise of artist’s status and art itself began to prevail as a tool for propaganda used as competition between the wealthy for better works of art to add to their collection.^[2]  In Europe, during the 16th and 17th century, the rise of the artists status was seen as Caravaggio, Bernini and Velasquez were able to showcase how important an artist was becoming due to the significance of the art they were creating.

Throughout this time period, artists were slowly obtaining a very influential role in society which was further demonstrated when Caravaggio was able to get away from his death sentence due to the influence he had as an artist. In 1571, he was born as Michelangelo Merisi in Caravaggio; a town in Italy. He lost his father and grandfather to the plague which forced him to make his living as an artist in order to stay financially stable.^[3] Orphaned, Caravaggio took to the streets and fell in love with a group of painters and swordsmen who lived by the motto ‘without hope, without fear’ which provides insight as to why Caravaggio was the fierce and passionate person that was seen through his art.^[4] With the help of Simon Peterzano, a painter from Venezia, and Cardinal Francesco Maria Del Monte, he was able to meet many other artists and gain commissions from the pope.  By 1599, Caravaggio’s dream of becoming an artist became a reality. Not only was he an artist but he was well known all over Europe.^[5] 

Caravaggio befriended Cardinal Borghese which allowed him to receive a commission for Saint Peter’s Basilica which was and still is one of the most important churches worldwide. The church is known as the burial site of St. Peter, one of Christ’s Apostles and also the first pope. Since Europe was very catholic, it was a huge honor to be able to work in one of the holiest churches.  Along with this, he worked for pope Clement VIII’s favorite painter, Giuseppe Cesari, which was when he created his first known painting. Due to his travels all around Europe, Caravaggio began to familiarize himself with the other artists and painting styles which helped him eventually create his own. He was the most radical artist for his time because he abandoned the rules that a century of artists laid out for him.  Artists before him idealized the human and religious experience however, Caravaggio’s paintings caused public outcry due to their realistic and dramatic nature; something people had never seen before.^[6] He was able to lift traditional religious scenes and cast them with his own dark interpretation.^[7] His biblical scenes became populated with prostitutes, beggars and thieves who he had encountered as an orphaned child.^[8]  Caravaggio has been said to almost single-handedly create the Baroque style of art as he innovated the tenebristic qualities in some styles of Baroque painting.

Plagued by an extremely short temper, in 1606 he killed Ranuccio Tomassoni after a disputed tennis match.  The surviving documents provide different accounts of who struck who first but it is undisputed that Caravaggio stabbed Tomassoni so severely that he died the same evening.^[9] Over the course of the following weeks, arrest warrants were issued for Caravaggio but he had already fled the city hiding out in Naples, Malta and Sicily. His plea for pardon was granted on December 9th 1606 under one condition: that he and everyone else involved preserve eternal silence about what actually happened that night. Caravaggio was able to stay safe because of Prince Marzio Colonna who was instrumental in spiriting the artist out of the city. ^[10] In Naples, where Caravaggio stayed during the majority of his time hiding, he was protected by the Colonna family and soon became the most famous painter in Naples. His connections to the Colonna family led to a stream of important church commissions.^[11] Even though he committed murder, Caravaggio continued to receive commissions due to his talent and he managed to create his best pieces while in hiding.

The influence of Caravaggio as an artist and his breathtaking paintings led to him becoming friends with the pope and many different cardinals. It is argued by many art historians that if Caravaggio had not been so well connected, he wouldn’t have been able to escape punishment. Many scholars believe that Cardinal Borghese prejudiced the pope into giving Caravaggio his pardon.^[12] As an artist, Caravaggio received a lot of leeway because he was so important to the right people at the time.  If he wasn’t an artist, he wouldn’t have become acquainted with Cardinal Borghese who left the greatest impact on the pope that resulted in him being able to escape his death sentence. His connections to the pope and other famous artists helped him flee Europe privately and safely after he committed murder.

No one had ever made marble float until Gian Lorenzo Bernini. His sculptures had always been expressive with twisting and rising figures engaged in frozen action but in his commission for the Ecstasy of St. Teresa, Bernini lifted the saint from the floor on billowing clouds accompanied by an angel of the Lord. The whole action is backlit and explosive with passion of, and for, faith. Though no stranger to controversy and bad behavior, Bernini was pious, didn’t drink, and charmed nearly everyone he met. He was personal friends with high church officials due to his charisma and talent which allowed him to get away with attempted murder.^[13] 

 In 1598, Gian Lorenzo Bernini was born in Naples, Italy. Unlike many other artists who had to work their way up to fame, Bernini was the son of the celebrated Florentine sculptor: Pietro Bernini. ^[14] Under his father, he worked rigorously and was noticed by Scipione Cardinal Borghese, a member of the reigning papal family. He sculpted many different pieces including Apollo and Daphne, Pluto and Prosperpina and David which led him to then being recognized by the pope, Urban VIII.^[15] Under the pope, he was asked to make many renovations in St. Peters Basilica which was a huge honor because it was and still is one of the most important churches in the world.^[16] The pieces he created singlehandedly launched the Baroque style of sculpture which he developed so precisely that other artists who attempted to replicate him were never able to reach his level of complexity.