January 2nd the feast day of Saint Basil the Great. His vast knowledge, speeches, monastic reforms, and extensive charitable works earned him the title of "Great" during his lifetime.

Have a look at The Madonna of the Rosary (1604) by Caravaggio. We see the Virgin pointing at the rosaries she gave to St. Dominic, while others kneel and request the rosaries from him. The man on the far left of the painting with the white collar looking back at us may be the donor that commissioned this work. The message of the painting is to remind us of the importance of venerating the rosary and the central role that the Virgin and saints play as intercessors for us.

Much has been written about Caravaggio's Death of the Virgin and its rejection by the Barefoot Carmelites. However, did you know that the painter chosen replace Caravaggio was also rejected on his first attempt?
The Venetian painter Carlo Saraceni also depicted the Virgin dead; though she appeared less lifeless than in Caravaggio's version. He modified the painting to depict her alive but it was still rejected. It was not until Saraceni included cherubs and a more heavenly presence above the Virgin that his painting was accepted and still hangs at Santa Maria della Scala in Rome(2). The first version is on display at the Met in New York(3), and another version is exhibited in Venice at the Gallerie dell'Accademia(4).

Merry Christmas from the Baroque Art Accessibility Consortium! In celebration, we will be sharing our favorite Holy Family scenes by French Baroque artists from our recent trip to the Louvre.

Adoration of the Shepards (1644) by Georges de La Tour. La Tour takes a cue from the Northern Baroque artists and includes a candle as the light source for the painting, creating an effect that the light is radiating from Baby Jesus. Typical of Caravaggio, the Holy Family and shepherds are wearing contemporary clothing of the painter's time.

Merry Christmas from the Baroque Art Accessibility Consortium! In celebration, we will be sharing our favorite Holy Family scenes by French Baroque artists from our recent trip to the Louvre.

The Holy Family with Saint Elizabeth and Saint John the Baptist (c.1633) by Jacques Blanchard. Here is a unique scene with Baby Jesus handing John the Baptist his symbolic staff with cross on top. There is a similar piece by Blanchard at the Art Institute of Chicago that shows Baby Jesus handing John the Baptist a dove. (not currently on display)

Merry Christmas from the Baroque Art Accessibility Consortium! In celebration, we will be sharing our favorite Holy Family scenes by French Baroque artists from our recent trip to the Louvre.

Sleeping Jesus or Silence (1655) by Charles Le Brun - I love how realistic the depiction is with the Virgin silencing John the Baptist since Baby Jesus is sleeping. The composition of the piece feels like a juxtaposition of the traditional Flemish genre (everyday lifestyle) painting and a renaissance Holy Family painting. It is one of the few paintings Le Brun signed.

Merry Christmas from the Baroque Art Accessibility Consortium! In celebration, we will be sharing our favorite Holy Family scenes by French Baroque artists from our recent trip to the Louvre.

Bonus: The Holy Family of Francis I (c.1518) by Raphael and Friends. Not Baroque and not French but I do love this depiction of the Holy Family, mainly because of Joseph's expression of bewilderment and "is this really happening?"

We'd love to hear your thoughts and questions on these French Baroque depictions of the Holy Family!

During Christmas week, we take a look at several of Caravaggio's depictions of the Holy Family. Note: The last slide is not universally accepted as autograph by all Caravaggio scholars.

The Adoration of the Shepherds (1609) was originally displayed in the Messina church of Santa Maria della Concezione dei Padri Cappuccini (Our Lady of the Conception of the Capuchins). The small stable, the large animals, Mary seated on the floor and resting against the manger. Everything in this painting is designed to emphasize the humility of the Holy Family, which aligns with the focus of the Capuchin Order. With this altarpiece, Caravaggio truly hit the mark; especially when compared to the rejected Death of the Virgin painted only a few years earlier. The painting is now on display at Museo Regionale di Messina.

The Nativity with St. Francis and St. Lawrence (1609) was displayed in the Oratorio di San Lorenzo (Oratory of Saint Lawrence) in Palermo until it was stolen in 1969. This painting was created not long after the Adoration of the Shepards in Messina, but handles the subject completely differently with a more traditional composition and inclusion of the Saints Lawrence and Francis plus the Angel above the scene. Joseph is facing away from us, looking at the shepherd. There is a reproduction hanging in the church now.

The Holy Family with the Infant St. John the Baptist is on display at the Met in New York. Mary looks extremely young, even younger than she does in the previous slide. Baby Jesus is holding on to her tightly as he stands on her thighs and looks down at John the Baptist, unsure as to what he's doing. Joseph is standing protectively behind Jesus and trying to stop St. John from knocking Jesus over. St John is wearing a camel skin toga, one of the many symbols artists use to identify him.

One of Caravaggio’s few portraits will be on display in a special exhibit until February 23, 2025. This portrait is part of a private collection and has never before been on display to the public. The portrait is of Maffeo Barberini, who at 30yrs old was well on his way to being appointed a cardinal and then eventually elected Pope UrbanVIII. Pope Urban VIII was known as a great patron of the arts, commissioning many of Bernini’s works; such as the Baldachin at St. Peter’s Basilica. He is also known for calling for a special inquiry into one of Galileo’s texts which resulted in Galileo spending the remainder of his life (~10yrs) under house arrest

Welcome to the world of Baroque art, a style that flourished in Europe from the late 16th century to the early 18th century. If you're new to art history, Baroque art might seem a bit overwhelming at first, but it's a fascinating and dynamic period worth exploring. Let's dive into what makes Baroque art so unique and captivating.

3 reasons this Caravaggio is worth some thought.

1. It depicts sisters Martha and Mary Magdalene at the moment Mary is receiving the light of God. (Notice how well lit Mary's face is.)
2. Check out the difference between Mary's clothes and Martha's. Mary has obviously been reaping the material rewards of her lifestyle as a prostitute.
3. It is thought that the two models are well known Roman courtesans. Anna Bianchini (Martha) and Fillide Melandroni (Mary). Much more to say on that later!

How Did We Get here?

My appreciation for Baroque Art began before I could even name the style. Roaming the Art Institute of Chicago, I was invariably drawn to the European Art galleries, captivated by the 16th and 17th-century paintings. The dramatic chiaroscuro, the vivid detail of the figures, the lifelike quality, and the religious themes resonated with me deeply.