Two 17th-century letters
discovered in the small hill town of Urbino, in the Marche
region, add weight to arguments that Caravaggio died in the
Tuscan port town of Porto Ercole, researchers disclosed
Thursday.
The missives dated July 28 and July 31, 1610, informed the
Duke of Urbino that Caravaggio had died at Porto Ercole while on
the road to Rome.
The artist had fled the Eternal City four years earlier
after a murder conviction, and was on his way back because the
pope had just pardoned him.
"On July 28 we had news of the death of Michel Angelo
Caravaggio, celebrated painter and most excellent in colouring
and portraying from nature," recited one letter.
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