Descrizione
Storia dell’arte n. 160
Nuova Serie 2 | 2023
Francesca Curti
“Misesi in una feluca con alcune poche robe”: l’ultimo viaggio di Caravaggio
The article retraces the events of the last days of Caravaggio’s life, from his departure from Naples to his arrival in Porto Ercole. Through the rereading of known documents and the analysis of unpublished data, the author develops alternative proposals to the reasons that pushed the painter to land in Palo and subsequently in Tuscany. News also emerges regarding the fate of the paintings, two San Giovanni and a Magdalene, which the painter had with him and which returned to Naples to the Marquise Costanza Colonna. In fact, they were seized by the Vicaria Court to establish who was entitled to Caravaggio’s inheritance. Finally, it is clarified that Cardinal Borghese managed to gain possession of the only painting remaining in Porto Ercole and then brought back to Naples (thanks to the intervention of the viceroy), another San Giovanni (Rome Galleria Borghese). The nuncio of Naples, Deodato Gentile, paid the sum of three hundred ducats to the Tribunal to obtain it.
