Art Review: 'Bodies and Shadows' Shows Caravaggio's Influence

THE LOS ANGELES TIMES
By Christopher Knight

"Saint Francis of Assisi" (1595) by Caravaggio. Oil on canvas.
36 3/8 x 50 1/4 in. (92.4 x 127.6 cm); Frame: 48 x 62 1/2 x 4 1/4 in.

CALIFORNIA---"The Toothpuller" (circa 1608-09), on loan from the Palazzo Pitti in Florence, Italy isn't in the best condition, but it does make for a marvelous coda to "Bodies and Shadows: Caravaggio and His Legacy." The tightly drawn show sketches Caravaggio's artistic innovations in eight paintings. That's not many, but it's more than most American museums have had together in 25 years. Bodies call forth shadows, offering a sharp stylistic contrast while underscoring a central feature of the paintings' original artistic intent. [link]

 Los Angeles County Museum of Art: "Bodies and Shadows: Caravaggo and His Legacy" (Ends Feb. 10). 5905 Wilshire Blvd., (323) 857-6000, lacma.org