Why Did Caravaggio Behead Himself in This Painting?

David with the Head of Goliath is an intriguing painting, even more so when you learn that Caravaggio painted it with a very specific goal in mind. Why did he paint himself as a beheaded man?
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[@driveasandwich6734]

Jesus, if he died of lead poisoning from his paint, one could say this painting ended up actually executing him.

[@369TurtleMan]

Scientists have theorized a link between long-term lead exposure and the increase in violent crime from the 70s to the 90s. I wonder if his use of lead paint contributed to his violent tendencies.

[@based_prophet]

Jesus died of lead poisoning... fact

[@amafirenze-vi1uh]

How bout all other painters in the same Barocco period? Did they died the same way?

[@DS-nw4eq]

Shhhh. You’ve stated the obvious.

[@driveasandwich6734]

@@DS-nw4eq Sometimes the obvious deserves to be acknowledged

[@tommyorigani2867]

I am an art history student in Italy and I recently studied this painting for an exam. Our teacher not only gave us the explanation of the biographical context that makes this painting so interesting and meaningful (and that you explained very well), but she gave us another point of view. Other interpretations state that David is a self portrait too, a younger version of Caravaggio that looks at the head of his older self. He looks with shame, or with pity, at what he has become, truly showing a search for redemption as a consequence of an inner conflict. This is why, in my opinion, this look is what actually makes this painting really powerful and emotional.

[@Ponyboy_Curtis]

Ciao, thank you for sharing. I agree, David almost looks disgusted.

[@arigato7994]

Wow, what a way to look at this wonderful painting. This interpretation makes more sense to me as I can relate to the discontent of one's self in the past. Caravaggio might have painted this to express how he has grown to see his past actions as inhumane and thus showed himself beheaded as if to vanquish the demon.

[@gnarbeljo8980]

I came to thr comment section looking for this. I agree it makes a much stronger case in his plea. I personally think it's more than manipulative. And although I'm sure he feared losing painting and being jailed and killed for his crime, you cannot paint like this whilst in the throws of deep angst. This type of painting also takes considerable time to paint. Maybe Caravaggio was a good guy with poor impulse control and a drinking problem, maybe he was a much bigger asshole than that. We'll never know.

[@arigato7994]

@@gnarbeljo8980 If he was a good guy with poor impulse control, what could this painting represent? Could it be something more like a joke, to throw the court official off? What if he was just taunting the court official before fleeing the country? 🤔

[@gnarbeljo8980]

@@arigato7994 No that's not how Italy worked then or now. It's a bribe. The powerful have the influence to bend the law. If you're connected you can get away with murder. But you might get whacked as well. Retribution by the family of your victim or you just become a liability to your own. There's no dodging and getting away from all of it altogether once you start asking favors you're owned. It's still the case in some areas. And a painter couldn't survive without affluent patrons. They're work was commissioned. It's a tragedy in the original definition of the word.

[@rochaisabela]

I hadn't ever noticed that this was Caravaggio himself as Goliath, and, knowing of his reputation as violent man, I feel like this art seeks to redeem himself through remorse. It goes well with this piece being given to his Cardinal patron.

[@Ah-dz5rf]

Few pieces can represent the power of art better than this painting. Being pardoned by the use of your own work is something truly inspiring, even though the context is ugly

[@onbearfeet]

I wish you'd talked more about Caravaggio's history with the "assistant and lover" who modeled for David here. Caravaggio initiated ... shall we say, adult activities ... with that model when the boy was quite young, and there are other writings and paintings from the time criticizing him for it. Every time I look at this painting, I wonder what that boy thought about it, and I find myself uncomfortable with someone painting a kind, merciful expression on the face of the child he did that to.

[@jingalls9142]

Whaaaaat? You mean he had love with the boy In the "greek" way...jeez. I mean do you want...but leave the damn kids alone right? I'll never be able to look at that painting the same as well. That's a hell of a story.

[@pemo2676]

its unfortunate the figures of hitory did not know what those kind of actions would do for a child/young person in the grand scheme of things, it's almost impossible to criticise people who would've partaken, as they would never have known - especially with the fact there was not much distinction between an adult and a child for huge portions of history for most cultures you cannot criticise people for having child labour if they did not even think of a child as a child, you can't criticise incest before the discovery of the effects of incest itself oscar wilde had sex with teenage prostitutes, but there wasn't an understanding of what that really meant that might change your perspective on what that might've meant for the boy, or how it would've been treated culturally - like with that criticism you mentioned, but you must remember you can't truly apply modern morals on much of history

[@jingalls9142]

@@pemo2676 beasting weens ain't never been cool. Split hairs all you want.

[@pemo2676]

@@jingalls9142 getting with people dramatically younger than you has been looked down upon at various times, but it was never really about the actual age of the person, just the gap on a standpoint of evaluating history (of course i dont support this shit), it was heavily supported for girls to marry young, and there wasn't anything seen wrong with a 15-16 year old marrying, for example, a 24 year old man. (still happens in some parts of the world today). there was simply not an understanding. im splitting hairs because this is a very specific social event that occurred on and off for thousands of years, man - its interesting, if not morbid, history. simple as. this began changing to what we feel in the modern age around the 19th century

[@onbearfeet]

@@pemo2676 That bit where I said there were letters and paintings from the time criticizing Caravaggio for what he did? People absolutely knew what abuse did to children. It was why they criticized him for it. The paintings are particularly blistering. Almost like his artistic contemporaries had unusually strong opinions...

[@nosemeolvidaraestacuenta7184]

I swear Paris will be prayed for

[@tuurparreyn675]

Was really confused to see this painting without Westside Gunns chains.

[@ItsDJF]

Looked for this comment hahaha

[@DERAILEDbeats]

they do weirdly fit once you've seen the cover enough times lmaoo

[@mbongenimhlanga4263]

same lol GxFR!🔥🔥🔥🙌🏾

[@jessesimonet1881]

this painting is also discussed in the wonderful novel the english patient by michael ondaatje - excellent video

[@josephwalsh7546]

The hype re: The English Patient movie was hilariously mocked in Seinfeld.

[@dinosauce4829]

this channel changed my perspective on art . The way he can tell a drawing into a real story , the real beauty behind the picture , much more than just a seemingly random well done artwork of someone . I once thought art is just some well done drawings , and this channel taught me what art really was . Which is the reason i appreciate this channel

[@andrewswartzlander9337]

Everyone talking about how great the art is, me “that’s a Westside Gunn album cover”

[@miseralisyeeeh2834]

I've seen the painting in real life once (I checked, I saw a very close copy), and I just remember that it has taken me back a little. I knew the david vs. Goliath story, yet this painting looked like a sad scene to me, other than the depiction of the Bible told it.

[@jaymoran2493]

While art history isn't my favourite subject to research of all time, there is something so breath taking about looking a little deeper than the surface level of biblical themes and Christian egregiousness of the artistic time period and seeing the master artists as real people with flaws and complex feelings that are so smartly woven into their works, kind of a "blink and you'll miss it" insight that makes art what it is to the world

[@meppouu]

westside gunn

[@DailyDoseOfFootballYT]

No way, I've been in love with this channel and just as I wrote the script for my next video, Caravaggio crossed my mind and now you've made a video on him, incredible!

[@roomsey9044]

Brother man.. you deserve a lot more subscribers. I'm not crazy big into art at all, I understand the passion, soul, and meanings behind some, but your way of talking about it draws me in and helps me appreciate it even more. Good stuff dude. Keep it coming.

[@lukereilly9844]

My favourite painting ever.

[@galegrazutis964]

I bit much for me. Ofcourse the artwork is breathtaking!

[@etantife]

There needs to be a movie about this guy, staring Shia Lebouf.

[@MarcoBrun6]

Your channel is truly special. You know how to organize all the information, context and material about the art that you explaining. It’s so unique and well done. Congrats!

[@senfkirschen]

I really love your videos. Its so interesting to get all the backgroundinfo to such paintings in a short time! I also really like your interpretation of the paintings. Keep going!

[@leltrash5683]

I love this channel, I sit and binge looking for your content and content like your art history videos. Thank you

[@jimmycabs8386]

Anxiety from death. Brilliant

[@Head_Turnah]

I can hear the Westside Gunn adlibs right now.

[@pariaheep]

This channel is a must-find... I'm amazed by the content and scope of the paintings that you cover. I'm a sucker for this kind of information about art. Super duper interesting, thank you!

[@buttsniffingdoctor4104]

Man keep up the nice work, is amazing watching someone so into paintings, it really changes the way one sees them.

[@TheKzelaya1]

Love your channel. They have helped me understand and gained a new interest. Thank you for sharing

[@kollide3140]

not really the artistic guy or art enthusiast but i like to come back here bc of how you dissect and give us information, meaning and insight to this arts. Making me a guy who doesn't have knowledge/understanding of arts to appreciate this things! ♥️

[@azamatkenjaev8688]

As always great insight and your voice just captivate and lead deeper into the narrative! Thank you!

[@snowysnowyriver]

Just found your channel. What a treasure trove of interesting videos! Thank you!

[@strangemiscellaneousfruit9222]

in my opinion, david’s expression is conveying something like ‘that’s unfortunate, but i can’t do much about it since you brought this on yourself so i’ll just move on’, and he kind of looks like he’s turning away. this was written before i watched the part with the context by the way, so i have no idea what’s coming

[@elizabethfilcher1790]

In such short videos there is so information. You introduce me you new artist and artworks. I find myself watching more and more documentaries about art.

[@Shadow-bw8qf]

Am I the only one here who knows the painting first then Westside Gunn using it as his Art for Pray for Paris?

[@pigpig252]

I'm someone who knows really nothing about art, and really loving your channel. You talk about art in a way that's intellectual while being perfectly understandable to the layman. Excellent production value too, I'm sure you'll be blowing up even more soon

[@flormendoza2588]

Love your analysis, hope you can keep on doing these videos. Saludos desde Argentina

[@elizabethslayton3534]

love your channel

[@alanlawrence2954]

Epic presentation as usual.

[@Lindalindali]

The i in Caravaggio is silent, it only serves to turn the g into a "j"-sound [dʒ].

[@J3ff_K1ng]

Caravaggio was the Ezra miller of his time

[@raaf4678]

But with much more talent.

[@scoon2117]

Lmao no, that man had no talent. He has no equals.

[@SVAgxlxxi]

Brilliant video.

[@judithlauron2856]

THANKS FOR YOUR EYE OPENING INTERPRETATION OF CARAVAGGIO’S BRILLIANT “DAVID” . NATIONAL GALLERY EXHIBIT, LONDON…I VIEWED HIS PAINTING AND YOU TOLD ME SO MUCH MORE. ASTOUNDING CREATOR…HE REMAINS MY FAV OF ALL TIME.

[@charleneong]

I have a feeling this painting -- or the thought of it -- is going to haunt me for some time, thanks to this video. I've been binging this channel for the past hour, and my art nerdery has happily intensified

[@isabellepelletier2540]

Thanks for an excellent video.

[@marcelostalker]

Interesting, I was surprised when you described David expression here as one of pity, no mather how much I look I can only see some sort of contempt in his face, either that of a hero holding the head of his people's enemy or the executioner holding a criminal's head. Maybe my impression would change if I saw the real one, but here that's what I take from that face, that's part of the fun of learning about pictures after observing it for a while, isn't it?

[@Phenrex]

I personally read a mix of disgust and something else I can't quite place?

[@aleksandarrudic3694]

One of my favorite paintings

[@eugeneflynn7435]

Thanks!

[@KellsTV97]

Dude you had like 135k on Friday, youre growing like crazy man! Gratz!

[@_Flux_]

i love your channel bro, keep it up and have a great day !

[@abrahamh6106]

excellent video; I love this channel.

[@blanchegreco7201]

This was so beautiful

[@dehjababy]

I love your videos! They’re so informative and interesting. I would love to hear you talk about Gustave Doré!

[@jacobelsenbrook1121]

one of my favorite paintings

[@georgemohr7532]

Again, a video that is spectacular in its content and editing. The way the face of the Caravaggio sketch is superimposed onto the painting. Well done! I have to say I have had similar thoughts about this painting but what I never saw was the lettering on the sword and it's meaning. I never picked up this information even after a long study of the painting in the Borghese Gallery (at least that is where I think I saw the painting). One of my large questions has alway been: when Caravaggio used the same model several times and biographers frequently cite the model as being Caravaggio's lover, why is so little known about him? If I was a writer, what I could do with this question would be fun.

[@jon780249]

Another very good video.

[@flamingoman992]

It's amazing that I stumbled onto this channel, I have been enjoying every video I've seen so far, I was just wondering if you ever covered or thought about covering the portraits of Bryan charnley.

[@Will-bn9km]

GRRRRRRRR BOOM BOOM BOOM BOOM BOOM BOOM BOOM BOOM BOOM BOOOOM!

[@13StJimmy]

I can stare Caravaggio’s work for hours and it never gets boring

[@thevileone91]

I work mostly in black and white for exaggerated contrasts because of Caravaggio ❤ the way he used his models as multi-layered metaphors Apart from the biblical characters they represented blew me away

[@Mezelenja]

I was not prepared for this information

[@ChevalierdeJohnstone]

Thank you

[@ellistemlak6154]

I love this channel

[@skyskyisurmom]

i love your videos so much and this video is a peak of the production that i. love from you

[@lindanorris2455]

SHOCKINGLY BEAUTIFUL PAINTING

[@shankarcheran5307]

Extraordinary interpretation

[@BeingYouMan]

Hey I've binged all of your videos and love your channel, are there any other similar art KZbinrs out there that you could recommend

[@emilyzhang9997]

There's a poem about this painting in Richard Siken's War of the Foxes! It's really quite profound and echoes similar sentiments as conveyed in this video.

[@kneesockslength]

Where do you get that high quality photos of paintings from?

[@andrzejmaranda3699]

The Canvas: REALLY INTERESTING!

[@ulysselbd4307]

Very good

[@silentsililoquy]

Caravaggio is the luv of my life, fr

[@rosa97509]

wow your pronunciation of chiaroscuro is great!

[@GonjaSensai]

Boom,Booom,Boom, -WSG

[@allenvoss7977]

Great video I had no idea with this painting . I am familiar with the boy bitten by the lizard that one has a lot going on in it to.

[@fotisfotiades3496]

Great video. Plz cover medusa by Caravaggio next

[@blankroyai]

Reminds me in the style of nerdwriter, very asmr/ storytelling style, love love love!!!! Awesome contents!!!

[@aleksanderilcewicz-koodzie6076]

How do you get such high-resolution pictures of paintings

[@DehDehYT]

WSG 🐐

[@ryan-itslilbigtoe]

shoutout westside gunn and the late virgil abloh for making this the album cover on Pray For Paris (2020)

[@romulusbuta9318]

Such a HIGHT

[@butterflystampede1945]

Intense

[@timdanyo898]

I enjoyed your art historical analysis and perspective of this work. Interesting how you call the story of David and Goliath a “myth.” Archeology and historical evidence give us more credence to its actuality than showing it to be relegated to mythology.

[@101......]

It's like Self-Nature slays the blind Ego. A classic indeed.

[@that_boi_BK]

Any Westside Gunn fans?

[@greatguy2776]

Was looking for this comment lol. Praise both

[@sansebastienne3819]

There's an ekphrasis poem about this painting by Richard Siken which is amazing.

[@allanlindsay8369]

@ 5:59 into an excellent presentation . . . . .it would have been NO myth to Caravaggio and today the stipulation of "myth" will still be contested by many,

[@lukerichmond1319]

You should look at some of the paintings by contemporary artist cvelov aleksej. Truly some of the most terrifying paintings i have ever seen

[@BR-nv8bw]

please do the arnofelini portrait! :D

[@freetopain8634]

I live so close to it

[@jadenkanemoto8505]

i've binge watch like half of your vids idk if u already made a video about "GUSTAVE DORE (French 1882-1883) The mountebank's family: the injured child" as far as i know it has like two ver.(??) not quiet sure but i hope u make a vid abt it if u don't have a vid about it ^^

[@carlbrunt1170]

An enjoyable critique. I'm also interested in knowing the organ piece of music at the begining of video

[@KillerJPG]

Man I put this on to go to sleep but it’s actually very interesting

[@rafaelcastor2089]

I hadn't realized Dante's flashback was inspired by a painting.

[@ahobimo732]

When you said that Caravaggio accidentally killed a man, attempting to castrate him, all I could think was "WHY was he attempting to castrate him?!?!?!"

[@Yatukih_001]

He probably did it to show why we do not have any part belonging to the body which can store, retrieve or process memories (explaining why he paints his head severed). In this sense he was centuries ahead of his time. A few years ago, brain scientists began to doubt that human brains can process information. But Caravaggio was living in a time when people did not even have any idea that they have a brain at all. If he was around today, he would appreciate this video. I knew the truth about the part where he painted himself beheaded when I was a teenager.Thanks for the video!

[@Kiro6666]

Carvavggo great painter masterful masterpiece

[@loreelaiii]

Caravaggio is one of my favorites. Love love love it

[@ape2831]

love your videos

[@Ellnememe]

Guys wake up The Canvas posted a video

[@__Argos_]

This channel def the reason I got into art

[@Rasputin2011]

AYO!

[@redilofficial2905]

please, make a video about the works of Gustave Doré.

[@sabas7549]

Westside Gunn used this painting as a album cover.