Caravaggio at the Galleria Borghese

Few painters captured the drama of human existence as powerfully as Michelangelo Merisi da Caravaggio. The Galleria Borghese houses one of the finest collections of his work, offering a vivid journey through the artist’s genius and turmoil.

The Power of Realism

Caravaggio’s style broke with convention. He rejected idealized figures, choosing instead to depict saints, sinners, and ordinary people illuminated by divine light. His use of chiaroscuro—a bold interplay of light and darkness—became a defining feature of Baroque painting.

Highlights of the Collection

• Boy with a Basket of Fruit (c.1593–1594)
  A youthful portrait bursting with vitality and sensuality, painted during Caravaggio’s early years in Rome.

• Madonna and Child with St. Anne (1605–1606)
  Also known as The Madonna dei Palafrenieri, it caused controversy for its realism—depicting the Virgin as a simple Roman woman, barefoot, crushing the serpent of sin.

• David with the Head of Goliath (1610)
  A deeply personal work painted near the end of Caravaggio’s life. The severed head of Goliath bears the artist’s own features—a confession in paint, both haunting and redemptive.

Visiting Experience

Caravaggio’s gallery room at the Borghese is dimly lit, allowing the paintings’ inner glow to emerge. The effect is intimate and immersive—each painting feels like a theatrical scene unfolding before your eyes.

Take your time here; this is not art to rush through. Caravaggio demands reflection.