“The Musicians”: A Masterpiece by Caravaggio

Michelangelo Merisi da Caravaggio was a prominent baroque painter known for his realistic style. His painting, “The Musicians”, located at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City, is considered one of his most famous early works and a testament to his genius.

The Subject of the Painting

“The Musicians” features four young boys dressed in semi-classical costumes practicing madrigals, a form of secular vocal music from the Renaissance. The central figure holding a lute is believed to be Mario Minniti, a friend of Caravaggio. The second boy from the right, playing a cornetto, is a self-portrait of Caravaggio. The boy on the left represents Cupid and symbolizes love as he reaches for grapes.

An Allegory of Music and Love

Unlike the traditional representation of Music as a single, idealized female figure, Caravaggio’s “The Musicians” presents an allegory in a style that remains intentionally and provocatively ambivalent. The self-portrait of Caravaggio playing the cornetto, the lutenist believed to be Minniti, and the manuscripts showing the boys practicing madrigals, all suggest that the painting is not just a depiction of a contemporary concert but an allegory with a provocative ambivalent style. The manuscripts show that the boys are celebrating love through their music and the eyes of the lutenist are moist with tears, suggesting the sorrow of love. The violin in the foreground implies the presence of a fifth participant, the viewer.

Music was a Popular Theme at the Time

During Caravaggio’s time, scenes showing musicians were a popular theme as the Church was supporting the revival of music and new styles and forms were being experimented with, particularly by educated and progressive prelates such as Cardinal Francesco Maria del Monte.

Biographical and Homoerotic Interpretations

In the past, a biographical or homoerotic interpretation was often attached to the painting due to its sensual quality and the moist eyes of the lute player that engage the viewer. Caravaggio’s bisexuality can be established, and some scholars suggest the strong likelihood that Cardinal del Monte was homosexual, which may have influenced his tastes in the art he commissioned, including works by Caravaggio. However, it is doubtful that the picture was intended to convey an explicitly sexual meaning.

Commissioned by Cardinal Francesco Maria del Monte

Cardinal Francesco Maria del Monte was a fan of music and a patron of the arts who commissioned “The Musicians” from Caravaggio. He hosted both artists and musicians at his palace and commissioned several other paintings from Caravaggio, including “Bacchus” and “The Fortune Teller”. Caravaggio was 24 years old when he entered the household of Del Monte and was paid for his work by the cardinal.

Caravaggio’s Style

Caravaggio was known for his use of dramatic chiaroscuro effects and attention to both the physical and emotional state of his subjects. “The Musicians” is a testament to his style, showcasing his genius and influence on the art world. Despite the challenge of painting the four figures separately, “The Musicians” remains one of Caravaggio’s most famous early works.