Narcissus
ArtistCaravaggio
Year1597-1599
MediumOil on canvas
LocationPalazzo Barberini, Rome
About Narcissus
Narcissus gazes at his reflection in water. The composition forms a circle, the boy and his reflection mirroring each other. The dark background eliminates all distraction. An early work showing Caravaggios mastery of light.
Related Artworks
Supper at Emmaus
The moment two disciples recognize the resurrected Christ. Christ is beardless, appearing as a stran...
The Calling of Saint Matthew
Christ points at Matthew in a gesture borrowed from Michelangelos Creation of Adam. The light divide...
Bacchus
The god of wine portrayed as a sickly young man. X-rays reveal a small self-portrait of Caravaggio i...
Judith Beheading Holofernes
A brutal, visceral depiction of the biblical story. Judith grimaces with distaste as she saws throug...