Michelangelo Merisi, known as Caravaggio, is regarded as one of the great masters of art not only for his exceptional technical skill but also for his extraordinary ability to capture the essence of humanity in a raw and immediate way.
His painting transcends the boundaries of the 17th century and enters a universal dimension: it still speaks to us today because it conveys emotions and vulnerabilities that belong to every era.
His revolutionary use of chiaroscuro – dramatic contrasts of light and shadow – not only gives his subjects a three-dimensional presence but also infuses them with overwhelming emotional power. Caravaggio does not idealize: he paints real people, with all their imperfections, captured in intense and unrepeatable moments of life. This is why he has often been considered a precursor to photography: his works contain that same “decisive moment” modern photographers strive to seize.
Per Grazia Ricevuta draws inspiration from these principles. It is a unique blend of visual art and theater that brings Caravaggio’s masterpieces to life, not as simple reproductions, but as living incarnations. The performance by Teatri 35 at the Marygrove Theatre on November 8 quickly transported the audience to another dimension. A second performance took place on November 10 at the Dallara IncyCar Factory in Indianapois, Indiana, a historic symbol of Italian excellence in engineering and motorsport.
The actors became models, just like those who once posed for Caravaggio, embodying his paintings through gestures, poses, and movement. The language is entirely physical, without spoken words, allowing the audience to fully immerse themselves in the artworks and their deeper meanings. Each scene, carefully crafted from chaos, unfolded before the eyes of the audience in a crescendo of visual and emotional intensity. The performance paid homage to Caravaggio’s realism, theatricality, and spirituality, transforming the stage into a living gallery of light, shadow, and human emotion.
Teatri 35 has long explored and developed the technique of tableaux vivants, living paintings. Based in Naples, where it runs a permanent workshop, the company regularly presents its performances at major national and international festivals.
The presentations were made possible by the Consulate of Italy in Detroit and the Dante Alighieri Society of Michigan, with support from Società Dante Alighieri in Rome, Italy.
