Caravaggio: Masterpieces from the Galleria Borghese

Caravaggio developed a boldly naturalistic style that employed striking theatrical compositions and emphasised the humanity of his protagonists. The three paintings presented in this exhibition exemplify the crucial stages in Caravaggio’s short but intense career. Boy with a Basket of Fruit (c. 1593–94) represents the beginning of the artist’s career when he moved to Rome and attracted attention for his realistic genre scenes. Saint Jerome (c. 1605) portrays the saint in the dramatic lighting that Caravaggio made famous. In David with the Head of Goliath (c. 1610), painted at the end of the artist’s career, Caravaggio included his own features in Goliath’s head. All three paintings were acquired by Cardinal Scipione Borghese, who knew Caravaggio personally and was one of his primary patrons. Find out more about the Caravaggio exhibition from the Getty Center’s website.

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David with the Head of Goliath (c. 1609–10), Caravaggio. Ministero dei Beni e delle Attività Culturali e del Turismo–Galleria Borghese

Saint Jerome (c. 1605–06), Caravaggio. Ministero dei Beni e delle Attività Culturali e del Turismo–Galleria Borghese

Boy With a Basket of Fruit (c. 1593–94), Caravaggio. Ministero de Beni e delle Attività Culturali e del Turismo–Galleria Borghese

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