In celebration of tonight's Grammys, let's look at Caravaggio's "The Musicians," (ca. 1595, Met Museum, gallery 621.) Today's music industry didn't invent provocativeness. Caravaggio was doing it in the 16th century with his sensual, young musicians looking directly at the viewer, loosely dressed in classical togas revealing their creamy skin. It was painted for Caravaggio's first patron, Cardinal Francesco del Monte, who may have been gay, and may explain the homoerotic quality of the paintings he commissioned. It's thought that perhaps Caravaggio was homosexual as well, placing himself in this painting, second boy from the right. #Caravaggio #MetMuseum #MetropolitanMuseumOfArt #CardinalFrancescodelMonte #music #musicians #BaroqueArt #Chiaroscuro #ItalianBaroque #ArtHistory #HistoryOfArt #art_encounters (at The Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York)
