Michlangelo Merisi da Caravaggio (1571-1610), Boy with Basket of Fruit, ca 1593 Galleria Borghese, Rome
This, one of Caravaggio's earliest known works, may strike us as underwhelming. Nonetheless, it presages the artist's interest in powerfully observed naturalism -- and in comely young men.
Caravaggio, The Cardsharps, ca 1595, Kimbell Art Museum, Fort Worth
Caravaggio's most ambitious composition to this date, The Cardsharps shows a fresh-faced youth being cheated by his gaming companions. It borrows from theatrical conventions, popular prints, and Caravaggio's intimate knowledge of Roman street life. This startlingly new canvas drew the attention of Cardinal Francesco Maria del Monte, who invited the young artist to live in his palace as a member of his household.
Caravaggio, The Musicians, ca 1596 Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York
Probably the first painting Caravaggio executed in the service of del Monte, The Musicians is an allegory on youth, beauty, and the ability of music to arouse desire. The figure second from right is a self-portrait; Caravaggio holds a shawm, a wind instrument with bawdy associations.