By DARLA MCCAMMON

Lakeland Art Association

David with the Head of Goliath

WARSAW — Not sure if eccentricity runs throughout the artist community in the same proportion as it runs through the general public, but one thing is for sure—there are a number of artists who have drifted off what most of us would call the “normal” meter.  I thought you might enjoy learning more about some of our most recent as well as historical eccentric artists.

We have talked before about the genius Caravaggio who became known as a rough and brawling man yet brought amazing ingenuity to the art of painting.  Born in Milan, Italy, in September 1571, Michelangelo Merisi da Caravaggio, came close to the same recognition and artistic influence as Michelangelo himself.  Caravaggio did incredibly realistic work that often included violence such as “The Beheading of St. John the Baptist” or the equally grotesque “David with the Head of Goliath.”  Bringing subjects into the light out of dark backgrounds became a recognized technique and matched his own dark soul.

He was in jail about as much as he was out, as he often finished a work by getting drunk, picking up his sword and running about town in a stupor picking fights with citizenry.  He was also accused of killing a man in Rome and fled from there to other cities in Italy including Sicily and Naples. In 1606 at the age of 38, Caravaggio died under mysterious circumstances that many called murder.

Recently, about seven years ago, researchers revealed that some human remains that were in an Italian church crypt were those of Caravaggio.  The elaborate work to discover more about him, including the cause of his death resulted in the use of DNA samples.  Evidence in this discovery also led to an analysis that these remains had a very high content of lead—thus lead poisoning he had acquired from the lead in his own paints, was suspected in his ongoing derangement and odd character traits along with his belligerence.

Nevertheless, Caravaggio was recognized for his ability to portray human emotion in a tremendously realistic way.  He was famous for his mastery of chiaroscuro involving his expert use of drawing light from dark.  He also, unlike most artists who draft samples prior to working on the canvas, went to work directly on his canvas without those background works to guide him.  Many would like to understand and work with his techniques, but to this day they remain a mystery.

Yes, Caravaggio was eccentric, spent much time in jail, and tried to kill someone, but he left behind a treasure trove of art that is revered and respected to this day.

Upcoming and Current Events: 

• Iris exhibit at Mount Memorial on Grace College Campus through Oct. 7.
• Splat exhibit continues at Warsaw City Hall. Open daily 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Free Admission.
• John Streeter Pastel Workshop coming to LAA Oct. 7. Take home a framed, finished work. $65.
• Teresa Breading is back Oct. 14 at 1 p.m. to teach a watercolor class; $25 includes all supplies.
• Also coming soon to Lakeland Art, an Artisan’s Fair at the fairgrounds. Stay tuned for information.

For more information on topics in this column, please contact Darla McCammon at [email protected] or (574) 527-4044. Older columns at www.darlamc.com.