Art History Lecture w/ Tom Richards - Caravaggio Pt.2 - Simplicity and Force

An installment in the Art History related content on The FAA Collective Patreon

Dear Patrons,

Thank you for your support! This week we are excited to present you with the second part of a three-part lecture series by Tom Richards, Assistant Director of the Florence Academy of Art, on Caravaggio!

With the first lecture we started near Milan in the small town of Caravaggio, the birth place and eponym of the artist born as Michelangelo Merisi. This week we focus on the artworks made mostly in Rome after his travels post-studying, and particularly those found in the La chiesa di San Luigi dei Francesi (The Calling of Saint Matthew, The Inspiration of Saint Matthew, and The Martyrdom of Saint Matthew) and the Basilica di Sant’Agostino (Madonna di Loreto). In this lecture Tom expertly guides us through theses works as well as others by the artist, supplemented with works by Titian, Masaccio, Leonardo da Vinci, Jusepe di Ribera, Artemisia Gentileschi, Rembrandt and more!

Although a man of complex character, we are asked to break down the artworks Caravaggio made into their simple building blocks; pondering the elements used to create pictures that still captivate viewers over 400 years after their creation. Focusing on the variety of gesture, use of facial types, historical inspiration behind compositions, and the use of a multitude of genres in the paintings (drapery, still life, figure, etc.), together we ponder the question of whether Caravaggio was a painter of “reality” or a painter of “truth.”

We hope you thoroughly enjoy this lecture and remind you to stay tuned for the last lecture of this series to be published on The FAA Collective Patreon!

Art History Lecture w/ Tom Richards – Caravaggio Pt.1 – Introduction

Art History Lecture w/ Tom Richards – Caravaggio Pt.2 – Simplicity and Force

Coming soon… Art History Lecture w/ Tom Richards – Caravaggio Pt.3 – Symbols and Storytelling

More about Tom:

Tom Richards was born in London in 1982. In addition to his experience as a painter he has an MA in Art History from the University of St Andrews, graduating in 2005. Since then Tom has divided his time between London and Florence. In recent years he has exhibited his work in London and undertaken numerous commissions in Europe and beyond. Before joining The Florence Academy of Art he trained extensively with Charles H. Cecil, a former colleague of Daniel Graves.

To view his work please visit:

Website: www.tawrichards.com

Instagram: @tominflorence