Narcissus Michelangelo Merisi da Caravaggio (1571-1610)
Michelangelo Merisi da Caravaggio – Narcissus
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Painter: Michelangelo Merisi da Caravaggio
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Caravaggio’s real name was Michelangelo Merisi. He got his nickname from the place where he was born, Caravaggio, near Milan. He worked as a bricklayer, but his love of creativity, art, attracted him. He learned his art from the people who painted the frescoes, helping them mix the paints. Since he is self-taught, the artist does not know the styles, and creates his own, no one previously discovered style.
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Description of Michelangelo Merisi da Caravaggio’s Narcissus
Caravaggio’s real name was Michelangelo Merisi. He got his nickname from the place where he was born, Caravaggio, near Milan. He worked as a bricklayer, but his love of creativity, art, attracted him. He learned his art from the people who painted the frescoes, helping them mix the paints. Since he is self-taught, the artist does not know the styles, and creates his own, no one previously discovered style. His energy for life is also outstanding in his paintings.
At the time, the erotic poem "Adonis" went from hand to hand, when the restless artist became acquainted with it, he decided to portray this young man. He bends over a stream to drink water, seeing his reflection he falls in love with himself with such force that he loses interest in all his surroundings. He looks at his reflection with amazement, as if seeing it for the first time, he is fascinated and amazed.
This feeling brings him neither happiness nor a sense of contentment. According to legend, after his death, the young man is reincarnated into a delicate flower named after him. Thus he was avenged by a woman who became unhappy with unrequited love, who begged the goddess Nemesis to punish the proud man.
Caravaggio, in his painting, divides the world into two parts, the real and the mirror, which helps to understand and see all the things that surround us. Looking at events, as usual, we don’t notice much that becomes visible upside down. It is this kind of look that helps to see and understand some of the features of things more deeply.
The artist shows the tension of the hero, his inner dissatisfaction with the state of affairs. The main merit of the painting is in the contemplation of the inverted position, which appears to put everything in its place, in the relationship between the creator and his creation. This work shows the artist’s non-traditional view of the real state of affairs.
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В отражении выглядит как старик, похоже больше на портрет Дориана Грея, чем на Нарцисса.
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The artist employed a dramatic chiaroscuro technique, utilizing stark contrasts between light and shadow to sculpt the form and direct attention. A strong beam illuminates the young mans upper body and face, highlighting his musculature and rendering his expression with considerable detail. The rest of the scene is enveloped in deep darkness, which serves to isolate the figure and intensify the focus on his self-regard.
The reflection itself is a crucial element. It’s not merely a mirror image but appears slightly distorted, hinting at an idealized or perhaps even illusory perception of oneself. The waters surface isnt perfectly still; subtle ripples disturb the clarity of the reflection, suggesting fragility and impermanence. This detail introduces a layer of complexity to the scene, implying that what is seen may not be entirely accurate or stable.
The figure’s attire – a loose-fitting tunic – contributes to an impression of youthful innocence and vulnerability. The fabric drapes around his body in soft folds, further emphasizing the play of light and shadow across his form.
Subtextually, the painting explores themes of self-love, vanity, and potentially, delusion. The figure’s complete absorption in his own image suggests a preoccupation with appearance and an inward focus that isolates him from the external world. The dark surroundings could symbolize ignorance or a lack of awareness beyond ones own perception. The distorted reflection introduces a note of unease, hinting at the dangers of self-obsession and the potential for misinterpreting reality. Ultimately, the work seems to offer a commentary on the human condition – the allure of beauty, the pitfalls of narcissism, and the elusive nature of true self-knowledge.