1601 September 13 - Rome, Italy

Artistic creation

Under the cloak of night, I ventured into Rome's labyrinthine streets, where destiny guided my steps towards an unexpected encounter with Michelangelo Merisi da Caravaggio. The air was laden with the scents of Rome – a mix of earth, stone, and the distant sea.

In a dimly lit tavern, our paths crossed. Caravaggio, a man whose reputation as an artist of the physical form preceded him, sat enveloped in shadows, his eyes reflecting an inner fire. We spoke of art, and soon our conversation turned to the human form, its intricacies, and the play of light and shadow upon it.

He invited me to his studio, a sanctum of creativity where canvases spoke of raw human emotions. There, amidst sketches and half-finished paintings, Caravaggio shared his thoughts on capturing the essence of the physical form. He demonstrated his technique, his brushstrokes a dance of light and darkness, revealing the power and vulnerability of his subjects.

Our exchange deepened as we discussed the philosophies of beauty and the human condition. I shared my own sketches, and Caravaggio, with a discerning eye, offered insights that only a master of his craft could provide. There was a mutual admiration, a recognition of the other's passion for the artistry of the human form.

As dawn approached, our conversation waned, but the connection forged in that shared space of art and understanding remained. I left Caravaggio's studio with a renewed perspective on art, carrying with me the shadows and revelations of that night – a testament to the transformative power of artistic communion.