The artwork titled “The Seven Works of Mercy” was created by the renowned artist Caravaggio in 1607. Executed in oil on canvas, this allegorical painting exemplifies both the Baroque and Tenebrism art movements. Measuring 390 by 260 cm, the artwork is currently housed at the Pio Monte della Misericordia in Naples, Italy.
“The Seven Works of Mercy” portrays a complex scene rich in chiaroscuro, the strong contrast between light and dark, a technique characteristic of Caravaggio’s dramatic style. The painting encapsulates the seven corporal acts of mercy: feeding the hungry, giving drink to the thirsty, clothing the naked, sheltering the homeless, visiting the sick, visiting prisoners, and burying the dead. Through a dynamic composition and intense realism, Caravaggio masterfully weaves these acts into a single, cohesive narrative, highlighting the central figures amidst a surrounding darkness, thus evoking a powerful emotive response from the viewer. The presence of angels above orchestrating the benevolent actions on earth underscores the painting’s underlying spiritual message.
