Caravaggio's Death of the Virgin Rejection
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).
