Michelangelo Merisi da Caravaggio (1571-1610) has been rescued from neglect to emerge as something of a cult figure, celebrated both for his boldly original art and for his short, violent and troubled life. Catherine Puglisi brings much research together to provide a comprehensive monograph on the artist's life and work. Caravaggio was the most innovative painter of his time, and one of the greatest artists of any age. Controversial in his own lifetime, and notorious for this arrogance and violent character, he lived the last four years of his life in exile after committing murder. Yet he was always protected by influential patrons who admired the bold realism and originality of his art. His sexually provocative nude figures and his dramatically composed and brilliantly lit religious paintings have a psychological power and an undiminished capacity to shock and disturb after almost four centuries. Recent archive research and historical investigations have produced much new information about Caravaggio and his milieu, while cleaning, technical investigation and new discoveries have literally shed light on the paintings. Making use of all this new material, Catherine Puglisi has produced a comprehensive monograph. All Caravaggio's works are discussed and illustrated in colour and full use is made of the latest documentation to present a portrait of the artist.