The church of Sant’Agostino, located near Piazza Navona in Rome, is known for hosting a masterpiece by Caravaggio, the “Madonna dei pellegrini”. The history of this work is fascinating and represents one of the highlights of the artist’s career.
In 1603, Orinzia Cavalletti, widow of the Bolognese notary Ermete Cavalletti, wanted to commission a painting to Caravaggio for the chapel that his family had purchased inside the church of Sant’Agostino. This request was in line with a will expressed by the late Hermes in his will drawn up just two days before his death.
The chapel was dedicated to Our Lady of Loreto, the object of particular devotion by Ermete Cavalletti, who had made a pilgrimage to the Marche shortly before his death. Caravaggio, in charge of the commission, decided to represent the Madonna who appears before two poor pilgrims. These characters are painted with a high degree of realism, with dirty and worn clothes, giving a touch of humanity and simplicity to the work. The Madonna herself is depicted in a modest way, almost as a popular figure of the time.
The “Our Lady of the Pilgrims” achieved great success, particularly among the poorest layers of the Roman population. Caravaggio’s choice to portray common subjects and convey a sense of realism contributed to making the work extraordinarily accessible and engaging to the public of the time.
The work continues to be admired for its technical mastery and Caravaggio’s ability to infuse life and humanity into his paintings, even when addressing religious themes. The “Madonna dei pellegrini” remains an important example of Caravaggio’s genius in the use of light, color, and realism to convey emotions and involve the viewer.
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