The Last Caravaggio

Believedtobehislastpainting,Caravaggio'sJohntheBaptistRecliningisbarelyknownbycomparisontohisotherpieces.ThisisduetodisputesthataroseafterCaravaggio'sdeathregardingtheattributionofthepieceasaworkofthegreatmaster.However,duenotonlytothestyleandsubjectofthepiece,butalsofactsandcorrespondencethataddupfromaroundthetimeofhisdeath,ithasbecomeuniversallyacceptedthatthepieceisanoriginalCaravaggio.Inthisbook,forthefirsttimethepaintingissetagainstCaravaggio'sothermasterpieces.Prominentartexpertsandcriticsrevealtheadventurouscircumstancesunderwhichthispaintinghastravelledallovertheworldduringthepast400years.Theessaysprovideathoroughlyin-depthexaminationofthepiece,coveringbiographicalnotesonthepainter,evidenceforthepainting'sauthenticityandtechnicalanalysisbasedonfirst-handobservationofthepaintingitself.