Boy with a Basket of Fruit
Dublin Core
Title
Boy with a Basket of Fruit
Description
Caravaggios painting, Boy with a Basket of Fruit, is dated to early in his career from roughly 1593 to 1595. The painting is done in oil on a 70 by 67 cm canvas, and is a part of the Galleria Borghese in Rome [1]. Caravaggio created the painting early in his career during his still life exploration, and was originally for the Cavaliere d’Arpino, but was later taken by Scipione Borghese. During this time, Caravaggio arrived in Rome and was connected to Cardinal Francesco Maria del Monte, his first significant Patron.
The painting features a boy, thought to be modeled by the painter Mario Minniti, at the age of 16 [2]. He faces his body toward the right, but looks out toward the viewer. With his head tilted up and his mouth slightly agape, the boy shows a look of peace. The facial expression is reminiscient of Bernini’s Blessed Soul bust with a satisfied, relaxed look and slightly open mouth. In Boy with a Basket of Fruit, the boy tilts over with his tunic falling off the shoulders. His tunic carries folds and fluidity, emulating the classically Baroque fluidity. The basket he holds is overfilled with a variety of fruits that spill out of the sides. Accompanying these physical characteristics of the painting with his loose expression, Caravaggio has created motion and fluidity in a seemingly “still life.”
Accompanying this motion with dramatic lighting and bold colors, Caravaggio has created a painting carrying themes characteristic of the Italian Baroque painting movement. This portrait serves as a benchmark for themes in Baroque oil portraiture, and comparing it to Bernini's busts allows us to understand how Bernini encapsulated movements from Baroque portraits to sculpture. As is demonstrated by Damned Soul and Blessed Soul, Bernini was able to translate these themes to the seemingly frigid medium of sculpture. Damned Soul is depicted amidst agony, and Blessed Soul seems lifted to ascend to heaven - these dynamics, similar to the dynamics Caravaggio presents in painting, are used by Bernini to spearhead the Baroque sculpture movement.
[1] “Boy with a Basket of Fruit by Caravaggio.” Web Gallery of Art. Web Gallery of Art. Accessed December 2, 2021. https://www.wga.hu/html_m/c/caravagg/01/03boy_fr.html.
[2] “Boy with a Basket of Fruit by Caravaggio.” Galerie Borghèse, August 2, 2019. https://borghese.gallery/collection/paintings/boy-with-a-basket-of-fruit.html.
The painting features a boy, thought to be modeled by the painter Mario Minniti, at the age of 16 [2]. He faces his body toward the right, but looks out toward the viewer. With his head tilted up and his mouth slightly agape, the boy shows a look of peace. The facial expression is reminiscient of Bernini’s Blessed Soul bust with a satisfied, relaxed look and slightly open mouth. In Boy with a Basket of Fruit, the boy tilts over with his tunic falling off the shoulders. His tunic carries folds and fluidity, emulating the classically Baroque fluidity. The basket he holds is overfilled with a variety of fruits that spill out of the sides. Accompanying these physical characteristics of the painting with his loose expression, Caravaggio has created motion and fluidity in a seemingly “still life.”
Accompanying this motion with dramatic lighting and bold colors, Caravaggio has created a painting carrying themes characteristic of the Italian Baroque painting movement. This portrait serves as a benchmark for themes in Baroque oil portraiture, and comparing it to Bernini's busts allows us to understand how Bernini encapsulated movements from Baroque portraits to sculpture. As is demonstrated by Damned Soul and Blessed Soul, Bernini was able to translate these themes to the seemingly frigid medium of sculpture. Damned Soul is depicted amidst agony, and Blessed Soul seems lifted to ascend to heaven - these dynamics, similar to the dynamics Caravaggio presents in painting, are used by Bernini to spearhead the Baroque sculpture movement.
[1] “Boy with a Basket of Fruit by Caravaggio.” Web Gallery of Art. Web Gallery of Art. Accessed December 2, 2021. https://www.wga.hu/html_m/c/caravagg/01/03boy_fr.html.
[2] “Boy with a Basket of Fruit by Caravaggio.” Galerie Borghèse, August 2, 2019. https://borghese.gallery/collection/paintings/boy-with-a-basket-of-fruit.html.
Creator
Caravaggio
Source
“Boy with a Basket of Fruit by Caravaggio.” Galerie Borghèse, August 2, 2019. https://borghese.gallery/collection/paintings/boy-with-a-basket-of-fruit.html.
“Boy with a Basket of Fruit by Caravaggio.” Web Gallery of Art. Web Gallery of Art. Accessed December 2, 2021. https://www.wga.hu/html_m/c/caravagg/01/03boy_fr.html.
“Boy with a Basket of Fruit by Caravaggio.” Web Gallery of Art. Web Gallery of Art. Accessed December 2, 2021. https://www.wga.hu/html_m/c/caravagg/01/03boy_fr.html.
Publisher
Galleria Borghese
Date
1593
Contributor
Meena Gudapati
Format
70 x 67 cm
Type
Painting
Coverage
Galleria Borghese, Rome, Italy
Files
Citation
Caravaggio, “Boy with a Basket of Fruit,” ARTHIST 256 - Italian Baroque Art - Fall 2021, accessed October 22, 2026, https://baroque.dahvc.org/fall-2021/items/show/323.