ione described him as needy and ragged(Moir 12-13) But he was not without resources. He was an able artist and still life painter (Friedlaender 58-59). Caravaggio soon found work with two painters who have disappeared from history. He made some friends: A fifteen-year-old painter from Syracuse, Mario Minniti, who became his helper until 1600; Bernardino Cesari, the younger brother of the Cavalier; and Prospero Orsi called prosperino Grottesche, a painter of garlands and the like who helped Caravaggio establish him self(Moir 9-11). Caravaggio was kicked by a horse, probably in 1593, and convalesced in the Ospedale della Consolazione. He was treated kindly there and painted some pictures for the prior. Gradually Caravaggio built up a reputation for himself. During 1593 Cavaliere de Arpino hired him to paint fruit and flowers. He lived with the DApro brothers about eight months, and because of that he grew to know many people( Moir 14).Caravaggio met a wealthy and wellborn new patron sometime during 1594. Morsignor Fantino Petrigrani, a high ranking Vatican Official. Caravaggio painted the fortune teller while under his protection. Morsignor soon took Caravaggio into his service. Caravaggio then began making his fortune( Moir 15). During the next four or five years Caravaggio painted a large number of pictures, including The Youth with a Ram, The Musicians, and The Lute Player. He began to increase his range to include multi-figure, full length, and religious paintings. He did such a magnificent job of turning a flat, solid object into a 3D scene. Many considered that he was a master of illusion(Moir 19-20) Many of Caravaggios masterpieces seem simple and without meaning, but they actually have hidden, symbolic messages. Many biographers say that Caravaggios secular paintings disguise Christian content, yet Caravaggio did not permit their secret meanings to compromise what they appeared to be(Friedlaender 117-119)Caravaggio...
