Italy: Search for Caravaggio’s DNA

The village of Caravaggio in Italy is famous as the birthplace of its namesake, the painter Michelangelo Merisi, better known as Caravaggio.

And now residents of the town who share his last name might be able to prove a genetic link to the father of Baroque art.

Anthropologist Professor Giorgio Gruppioni is coordinating the project to identify Caravaggio’s remains.

[Giorgio Gruppioni, Professor]:

„Today, we have carried out DNA tests on some individuals who have the same name as Caravaggio, that is to say Merisi, and who we think could be genetically linked to the great painter. We will then procede to compare their DNA with that of the remains.“

Caravaggio died childless, and the circumstances of his death have never been clear. The team hopes that by identifying his closest living descendant, they may be able to identify his remains among those buried in a mass crypt in Tuscany. Possible descendants, including Francesco Merisi, were amused by the project.

[Franceso Merisi, Possible Descendant]:

„I would be happy to be a proven descendant (of Caravaggio), but I have no great expectations that it would change my life or give me fame. Also, I think he wasn’t even married.“

It may take several months before the results of the DNA tests are known.

Foto: NTDTV