Nativity with St. Francis and St. Lawrence
Caravaggio1609Oil on canvas
Caravaggio's breathtaking altarpiece was stolen from its Palermo church in 1969, reportedly by the Sicilian Mafia. Valued at $20 million, it is considered one of the greatest losses of artistic heritage in history. The FBI lists it among the top ten art crimes.
Color Mood
Divinely dark. Caravaggio's radical chiaroscuro makes the nativity feel like a midnight event — figures emerging from absolute darkness into a light that seems physically warm.
Stolen from San Lorenzo in Palermo, Sicily (1969) — whereabouts unknown
Primary Colors
The dominant colors that define the overall mood and atmosphere of the work.
Secondary Colors
Supporting colors that add depth, contrast, and visual interest.
Tertiary Colors
Accent and detail colors that complete the composition.
baroquestolendarkchiaroscuroreligiouscaravaggio