"And so, for weeks now, I have suffered d’Arpino’s humiliations -Him and his goddamned garlands!…"
Have him add some garlands onto the large canvas, and we’ll just see what he can -or cannot -do.
"…But at night, I come back here and let loose. it delights me to see the amazement and admiration in Mario’s eyes…"
…Michelangelo,
no one can draw hands like you -- they look so real! The rest of your work is equally brilliant, but those hands…
Don’t worry. You’ll earn a decent living here. I’ll set up a small corner of my studio for you and your own paintings. Nothing grandiose, mind you…
That’ll be perfect, Antiveduto. I am most grateful.
Until the day when… Enough badgering, Caravaggio! You’ll continue with flowers and fruit! No figure work!
Spare me your speeches, Cavaliere. if you were a real painter, you’d know…
look! there is more truth in this fruit than in any Venus you have ever painted!
…that to paint fruit like this means that I have the same talent to breathe life into portraits!…
…unlike the lifeless “portraits” that you produce!
shut up, you ungrateful fool! You’re disturbing my horse!
Oh! Oh!
Aargh!!
days later, at the Santa Maria della Consolazione hospital… He’s much better now that his fever has broken. You may come in and visit him.
Don’t move! The leech! What a bunch of ugly mugs! have you come to take me out of here?
leech! get dressed, and let’s go!
let it suck your ass, priest! I’m leaving!
you Lunatic! Come back!
Leave the painting for the priest. I promised it to him, and he deserves it -he saved my leg…
Magnificent, Michelangelo! Even here you’ve managed to work!
Cheer up, Michelangelo! Lanzi is waiting to take us out of here…
Ah! And in good company, I see…
Later… We’ve shown your paintings, Michelangelo. The whole world loves them!
last one. After this, I call the guards!
Hold on… del Monte is different… He understands painting.
Let the plague take all the cardinals!
Gentlemen, your Royal carriage!
On to the Moro Tavern!
such a triumph! it deserves a song!
Well said, by God! to hell with the Cavaliere d’Arpino!
To drink till we can drink no more!
Cardinal del Monte was especially pleased. He wants to meet you.
I don’t paint to please Cardinals! I paint for lovely thighs like these!
And his blasted horse!
all right! What’s all the ruckus?
BOY BITTEN BY A LIZARD C. 1596
(Caravaggio made a second version c. 1600. This one is in The National Gallery, London.)
BASKET OF FRUIT
C. 1596
(The Pinacoteca Ambrosiana Gallery, Milan.)
