Caravaggio: The Bad Boy of Baroque
“He came, he painted, he murdered (almost). The wild story of Art's greatest rebel in Malta.”
Caravaggio wasn't just a painter. He was a fugitive. He came to Malta running from a death sentence in Rome (he killed a guy over a tennis match). The Knights welcomed him because they wanted his talent.
The Masterpiece
He painted "The Beheading of St. John the Baptist" for the Co-Cathedral. It's his largest work. It's dark, brutal, and terrifyingly realistic. It's the only painting he ever signed – and he signed it in the blood spilling from the saint's neck.
The Fall
He couldn't stay out of trouble. He got into a brawl with a Knight, was thrown into the dungeon at Fort St. Angelo, and managed to escape (which is impossible, so he definitely had help). The Knights expelled him in disgrace.
Where to see it: St. John's Co-Cathedral in Valletta. Go early to avoid the crowds. Standing in front of that painting is a spiritual experience, even if you're an atheist.