A depiction of violence and guilt in Caravaggio’s final masterpiece
In May 1610, Caravaggio painted his final masterpiece in Naples, where he later died under mysterious circumstances. Characterized by dramatic lighting and real, gritty models, his tumultuous last years produced some of his most striking works. The Martyrdom of Saint Ursula, his last-known painting, portrays violence in uncomfortable proximity, with an intricate interplay of guilty and innocent hands.
Displayed in London after 20 years, the artwork is accompanied by a letter describing its creation and another late Caravaggio piece, Salome with the Head of John the Baptist (1609-10), offering a poignant glimpse into the artist's tumultuous final period.
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