"He killed a man, brawled constantly, rowed with patrons and fled justice while revolutionising painting with his chiaroscuro style. Now, as if to underline how dramatic Caravaggio's short life was, researchers say he may have quite literally died for his art.
Scientists seeking to shed light on the mysterious death of the Italian artist in 1610 said they are "85% sure" they have found his bones thanks to carbon dating and DNA checks on remains excavated in Tuscany.
Caravaggio's suspected bones come complete with levels of lead high enough to have driven the painter mad and helped finish him off..."
1 comment:
There was probably a bit of mercury in paint back then as well.
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