Michelangelo Merisi da Caravaggio was an italian artist active in Rome, Naples, Malta and Sicily between 1593-1610.
He is commonly placed in the Baroque school, of which he was the first great representative.
Even in his own lifetime, Caravaggio was considered enigmatic, fascinating, rebellious and dangerous.
He burst upon the Rome art scene in 1600, and thereafter never lacked for commissions or patrons, yet handled his success atrociously.