Michelangelo Merisi da Caravaggio (1571–1610) was a trailblazing genius of the Italian Baroque whose raw emotional realism and bold use of light transformed Western art forever. At the National Gallery in London, three of his most iconic works provide a rare opportunity to experience the artist’s evolution—from provocative early experimentation to the searing emotional depth of his late period. These paintings are not just canvases; they are immersive psychological dramas, captured in oil and shadow.
Below, we delve into each painting, exploring its historical context, technical brilliance, and the emotional resonance that continues to captivate audiences centuries later.
Boy Bitten by a Lizard (c. 1594–1595): Caravaggio’s Early Genius on Display
Theme & Composition
In Boy Bitten by a Lizard, Caravaggio captures a fleeting, visceral moment: a delicate youth recoiling in pain as a lizard unexpectedly bites his finger. The boy’s expression is a study in shock and anguish, while the foreground displays a meticulously rendered still life—fruit, a rose, and a sprig of jasmine in a glass vase—enhancing the painting’s sensual and symbolic layers.
The work blends genres in a way that was revolutionary at the time, mixing portraiture, still life, and emotional allegory. A subtle detail—the reflection of a room in the curved surface of the vase—hints at Caravaggio’s growing technical mastery.
Dimensions & Technique
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Medium: Oil on canvas
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Size: 66 × 49.5 cm
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Method: Painted directly from live models
Caravaggio’s choice to paint from life, rather than from idealised sketches, marked a significant departure from Renaissance norms. This approach infuses the image with startling immediacy.
Symbolism & Interpretation
The piece has been read as a metaphor for the dangers of sensual pleasure, with the bite representing the sudden pain love can bring. Others interpret it through a homoerotic lens or even as a veiled self-portrait. Regardless of reading, the emotional authenticity is undeniable.
Why It Matters
This painting reveals Caravaggio’s early brilliance—his flair for chiaroscuro, the dramatic interplay of light and shadow, and his fascination with real human experience, unvarnished and intense.
The Supper at Emmaus (1601): A Theatrical Revelation in Paint
Narrative & Visual Impact
In this pivotal religious painting, Caravaggio illustrates a miraculous moment from Luke 24:30–31: Christ reveals himself to two disciples after the resurrection. The drama unfolds at a dinner table, with one disciple leaping to his feet and the other flinging his arms wide in stunned recognition. Christ, calm and luminous, breaks the bread.
Dimensions & Technique
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Medium: Oil on canvas
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Size: 141 × 196.2 cm
At first glance, the composition seems simple, but it brims with technical sophistication. The still life—especially the fruit basket that appears to jut out of the canvas—demonstrates Caravaggio’s illusionistic prowess. A shadow shaped like a fish hints at Christian symbolism, while the use of commoners as models grounds the scene in relatable humanity.
Artistic Significance
Painted at the height of Caravaggio’s fame for the influential Mattei family, this work captures his mature style: spiritual drama, everyday realism, and cinematic lighting. Christ appears youthful and almost androgynous—an aesthetic choice that invites interpretation.
Emotional & Spiritual Power
By depicting divine revelation in a humble inn with rugged, worn disciples, Caravaggio dissolves the boundary between the sacred and the ordinary. This technique redefined religious painting, making faith visceral and accessible.
Salome Receives the Head of John the Baptist (c. 1609–1610): A Haunting Late Work
Scene & Psychological Depth
In this intense and brooding composition, Caravaggio portrays the chilling aftermath of John the Baptist’s beheading. The executioner, brutish and emotionless, presents the severed head to Salome, who gazes at it with unreadable solemnity. Beside her, an elderly maid clasps her hands in silent grief.
Dimensions & Technique
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Medium: Oil on canvas
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Size: 91.5 × 106.7 cm
This painting belongs to Caravaggio’s final years, created while he was in exile after killing a man in Rome. The restricted colour palette, heightened use of shadow, and focus on psychological nuance all signal the emotional intensity of his late period.
Thematic Resonance
Rather than focusing on gore, Caravaggio hones in on the emotional aftermath. Salome’s ambiguous expression invites endless interpretation: Is she remorseful, detached, complicit? This ambiguity, paired with the maid’s sorrow and the executioner’s indifference, forms a triangle of human emotion.
Why This Painting Matters
Salome Receives the Head of John the Baptist is a masterclass in emotional minimalism. Stripped of superfluous detail, the painting distills a violent event into a quiet storm of moral complexity. It’s one of Caravaggio’s most psychologically sophisticated works.
Historical Journey of the Paintings: From Private Hands to National Treasure
The presence of these three paintings at the National Gallery is no accident. Each arrived through a unique path, reflecting changing tastes and institutional persistence.
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The Supper at Emmaus was acquired in 1839, after its previous owner failed to sell it at auction.
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Salome Receives the Head of John the Baptist entered the collection in 1970, following heated internal debate. Trustee Denis Mahon championed its acquisition against the director’s initial resistance.
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Boy Bitten by a Lizard joined the gallery in 1986, thanks to support from the J. Paul Getty Jr. Endowment Fund after its export was blocked to keep the piece in Britain.
These acquisitions expanded the Gallery’s scope and deepened public access to Caravaggio’s genius.
Room 32: A Shrine to Baroque Mastery
All three masterpieces now reside in Room 32 of the National Gallery, surrounded by other Italian Baroque works. This placement allows visitors to trace Caravaggio’s artistic evolution—from bold provocateur to troubled master.
His influence endures not just in painting but across photography, cinema, and even fashion. Caravaggio’s combination of naturalism, emotional truth, and spiritual immediacy continues to resonate in our visual culture.
Conclusion: Why Caravaggio’s London Trio Still Captivates
Caravaggio’s works at the National Gallery stand as monuments to an artist who defied convention, challenged power, and redefined art. Each painting offers a different lens into his soul:
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The raw pain and sensual complexity of Boy Bitten by a Lizard
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The divine surprise and intimacy of The Supper at Emmaus
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The emotional restraint and psychological depth of Salome Receives the Head of John the Baptist
Together, they chart a journey through light, shadow, and truth—ensuring Caravaggio’s place not just in art history, but in the emotional imagination of every visitor who stands before them.
