Meno písané krvou

by Matt Rees, Katarína Jusková (Translator)

Itália 1605

Pre umelca neurodzeného pôvodu je Rím mestom krčiem, bojov na nože a prostitútok, až kým nedostane objednávku namaľovať portrét pápeža...

Caravaggio sa zakrátko stane jedným z najuznávanejších a najvychytenejších maliarov v Ríme. No keď sa zahľadí do Leny, jednoduchého chudobného dievčaťa, a zveční ju ako madonu na svojich obrazoch, spoločnosť je pobúrená. Caravaggio, znevažovaný ako umelec, ale zaťato sa držiaci svojich ideálov, sa nechtiac zapletie do súboja, v ktorom zabije svojho protivníka z významnej rodiny.

Ani mocní patróni a mecenáši nemôžu zabrániť rozsudku smrti nad maliarom. A tak je Caravaggio nútený ujsť na Maltu. Ak chce dostať milosť, musí sa podrobiť prísnym pravidlám a zvyklostiam Rádu maltézskych rytierov. Jeho diela však naďalej hovoria o láske k umeniu a k Lene. No skôr než sa k nej stihne vrátiť ako rytier a šľachtic, záhadne zmizne...

Prekladateľ: Katarína Jusková

Genres: Historical Fiction, Art, Fiction, Historical, Italy, Art History

280 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 2012

About the author

I'm an award-winning writer of international thrillers, mysteries, and historical fiction. I'm giving away a FREE ebook THE THRILLER CHECKLIST, a no-nonsense guide to get your thriller written. Get it here: http://bit.ly/2r2jciK.

My novels have grown out of my career as a Middle East correspondent, which took me into culture very different from my own, and my love of history, which takes me into times very different from now. But those places and times aren't so completely different. I love to examine the emotions that connect you and me to people who live in distant places or distant times.

My books have been dramatized for BBC Radio and published in 25 languages. Along the way I picked up some major awards (a Crime Writers Association Dagger in the UK and a National Jewish Book Council finalist in the US)) and some nice compliments: major authors have compared my writing with the work of Graham Greene, John Le Carre, Georges Simenon and Henning Mankell.

Reviews

[Maťa · Rating 4 out of 5]

Neviem, koľkí to o mne viete, ale milujem umenie. Nie som však veľkým fanúšikom klasického umenia. Preferujem impresionizmus a podobné umelecké štýly.
Keby ste sa ma však (už pred čítaním tejto knihy) spýtali, kto je môj obľúbený klasický umelec, odpovedala by som, že Caravaggio. Akurát by som nevedela vysvetliť prečo.
Teraz to už viem.

Od úplného začiatku mi bolo jasné, že bude kniha skvelá, napriek tomu som s ňou však spočiatku bojovala z viacerých dôvodov. V prvom rade, množstvo talianskych mien, ktoré zneli podobne. Teraz si spomínam, že na začiatku je zoznam postáv (ktorý som po celú dobu neotvorila, pretože som naň zabudla), ale ja som z toho mala chaos a dlhšie mi trvalo, kým som sa zorientovala v tom, kto je kto. Druhou vecou boli (na môj vkus) veľmi dlhé kapitoly (30-40 strán), vďaka ktorým sa kniha veľmi pomaly čítala. A taktiež, akosi som zabudla, že nie som fanúšičkou historických románov.

Toto boli pre mňa také tri negatíva (hoci vo všetkých troch prípadoch bol problém skôr vo mne než v knihe), no netrvalo dlho, kým som si na ne zvykla/začala ich ignorovať. Kniha je skutočne skvelá. Výborne napísaná, miestami vtipná, naučíte sa veľa o Caravaggiovi aj o Ríme na prelome 16-17 storočia. A že život tam bol príšerný a katolícka cirkev vždy bola a stále je najväčším zlom na svete. Maximálne nechutné. No zároveň fascinujúce.
A tu je príčina, prečo je Caravaggio mojim obľúbeným klasickým umelcom, čo som až doteraz nevedela vysvetliť ani samej sebe, nakoľko maľoval hlavne náboženské výjavy - on totiž maľoval bez príkras a autenticky. Čo je v konečnom dôsledku to, čo na umení milujem.

Odporúčam každého, kto si rád rozširuje obzory, chce sa niečo nové naučiť a zároveň si chce užiť skvelo napísaný príbeh.

[Michaela · Rating 5 out of 5]

Brutálna obálka. Predznamenáva bolesť a strach a násilie, boj? Aj ja som s knihou trochu bojovala, ani nie pre množstvo postáv, ale preto, že som si dávala čas na vnímanie jeho obrazov... Podmanila ma hra svetla a tieňov, kde vystupujú a ožívajú postavy na plátne a zároveň, ako im vdýchol život spisovateľ Matt Rees. (Pozn. pre mňa, zohnať ešte ďalšie jeho knihy - zaujal ma doslov, kde opisoval, ako sám skúšal maľovať kópie Caravaggiových obrazov, aby sa lepšie vcítil do postavy, ktorej venoval román - to je tak fascinujúce a obdivuhodné!) Jeho teória o možnom konci Caravaggia znie vcelku logicky - zneváženie mocnej rodiny, zhoda náhod, sklony k výbušnosti, prchkosti, podľahnutiu vášní, plus všetko zasadené do celkovej politickej situácie, na prelome 16. a 17. storočia, kde moc cirkev mala vlastne posledné slovo... Neskutočne ma bavil príbeh umelcovho života. Bolo to dobrodružné čítanie plné rinčania mečov, rozliateho chlastu, prostitútok, špiny pod nechtami, zúfalej snahe objaviť niečo pekné... alebo aspoň pravdivé. Priznám sa, predtým ako som siahla po tejto knihe, viac mi inklinoval jeho starší menovec, ale aj tu som sa dočkala zmienky, keď na neho padlo zopár narážok. A celkom vtipných, nelichotivých.
Neapol, Rím, Malta, Sicília... Nebezpečný a drsný svet, v ktorom Caravaggio žil, tvoril, miloval, bojoval, skrýval sa a zase maľoval, by som nechcela zažiť na vlastnej koži. Niektoré udalosti jeho života sú známe, niektoré nie, dokonca aj jeho smrť je obostretá rúškom tajomstva a to dalo Reesovi voľnú ruku pri domyslení si zvyšku. A úplne dokonale to zvládol. Už len ten spôsob, akým sa vymykal spomedzi vtedajších umelcov, opísal dokonale. A zároveň, ako zapadol do putýk a krčiem a aký mal okruh známych a priateľov, kde si hľadal modely a inšpiráciu, kde skrátka žil. Bol známy svojím jedinečným štýlom a mnoho umelcov sa ním inšpirovalo, či už za jeho života kopírovali tento štýl, alebo potom, no len málo z nich obrazil ľudí s takou vášňou, s tým, akí sú naozaj, so všetkými zápasmi. So zúfalstvom, nádejou, žiaľom a bolesťou, túžbou po krvi a spáse. Všetko je tam.

[Hermien · Rating 5 out of 5]

I've read a few books about Caravaggio and I enjoyed this new take on C's death. It is also a pleasure to revisit the paintings and the stories behind them.

I have now "read" this book a second time by listening to the audiobook and enjoyed it even more second time around.

[Kahlan23 · Rating 5 out of 5]

vždy sa poteším, keď zo série Životopisy slávnych vyjde nová kniha. a túto po jej prečítaní môžem zaradiť medzi moju topku k Smädu po živote, Agónií a extáze a Gréckemu pokladu. popri čítaní som si musela googliť spomínané obrazy a proste nádhera, tak ako táto kniha. bez zbytočného pátosu, proste tak ako to bolo. Carravagio mal zaujímavý život. trochu ma síce zamrzelo, že sme ho nesledovali úplne od začiatku, no aj napriek tomu kniha poskytla detailný pohľad do jeho života.

už teraz sa teším komu bude venovaná ďalšia kniha zo série.

[Marek Zákopčan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Som veľkým fanúšikom knižných sérií, či už kvôli možnosti rozvetvovať osudy postáv, alebo preto, že sa jednotlivé knihy pekne vynímajú vedľa seba na poličke 😊. Po tvorbe Matta Reesa som pokukoval už istý čas, pretože ma zaujal sériou s detektívom Omarom Yussefom. Preto som sa potešil, keď som mal príležitosť prečítať si jeho román Meno písané krvou. Ten je síce samostatným dielom, no myslím si, že napriek tomu v sebe nesie typický rukopis autora. Odohráva sa v minulosti (konkrétne na začiatku 17. storočia), súčasťou príbehu sú reálne postavy a atmosféru definujú záhady a napätie. Hlavným hrdinom je známy maliar Caravaggio. Síce som tušil, že nepôjde o žiadny životopis, no dynamika a pestrosť deja ma napriek tomu veľmi milo prekvapila.

"Predtým sa nazdával, že jeho diela pretrvajú veky, až keď sa dotkol Prudenze, pochopil, že ktokoľvek môže kedykoľvek pristúpiť k obrazu a rozrezať plátno dýkou. Len čo vyschne, nosiči ho odnesú do paláca signory Olimpie a tá ho vystaví vo svojej galérii, aby ho mohlo obdivovať urodzené publikum. Každý si bude osobovať právo posudzovať ho a zasypávať posmeškami. Počul, ako to robia pri jeho ostatných obrazoch. Hocikto si môže zmyslieť, že ho treba zničiť." (str. 70)

Meno z učebníc dejín umenia získava ostré kontúry a stáva sa z neho človek z mäsa a kostí, čo ani zďaleka nezodpovedá predstave umierneného, pokojného maliara so štetcom v ruke a zasneným výrazom v tvári. Práve naopak, Caravaggio prechádza z jedného problému do druhého, je účastníkom bitiek a rôznych ďalších výtržností, až kým vďaka svojmu talentu neprenikne medzi Borgiovcov, mocnú pápežskú rodinu. Krásne sa tu ukazuje, aká krehká bola náklonnosť vysokopostavených osôb (a tiež ich pokrytectvo ohľadom morálky). Caravaggio totiž pomerne rýchlo príde o priazeň mocných a po tragickom dueli kvôli láske je nútený opustiť Rím a dostane sa medzi rytierov maltézskeho rádu. Caravaggia vnímam v prvom rade ako maliara, v druhom ako postavu, ktorú často využívajú autori kníh či filmov (okamžite mi v spojitosti s ním napadnú Juraj Jakubisko či Daniel Silva). V každom príbehu, kde sa vyskytol, dokázal poriadne zamotať dej, preto sa ani nečudujem, že mu Matt Rees venoval celý román. A urobil dobre. Meno písané krvou je skôr napínavé dobrodružné čítanie než historický román, hoci niekdajšie reálie tvoria neoddeliteľnú súčasť textu. Autor sa však aj tu prejavuje ako zručný rozprávač, pretože okolnosti či osobnosti minulosti sú predostierané ľahko a nenútene, tvoria rozmanité kulisy, nie sú žiadnou prehliadkou znalostí či faktov. Skôr môže dôjsť k tomu, že Caravaggio prebudí v čitateľovi zvedavosť, aby si sám vyhľadal dodatočné informácie o dobe, v ktorej žil a tvoril. Na druhej strane Caravaggio nevyznieva len ako ľahkovážny muž, predsa len – jeho talent je priveľký, aby sa naň zabudlo. Text vysvetľuje jeho zanietenie, vášeň pre maľovanie, až doslova cítite vôňu farieb. Kniha vás pobaví, ale popri tom aj poučí, pretože sa zdá, že Caravaggio všetko, čo sa mu prihodilo, zužitkoval v maliarskom umení. Napokon, kdesi museli vzniknúť predobrazy jeho postáv na plátne. Priznám sa, netušil som, že tento taliansky velikán sa dočkal takého dramatického konca, navyše dodnes obostretého záhadou. Matt Rees sa venuje aj možnému vysvetleniu maliarovho náhleho zmiznutia a pravdepodobného úmrtia, ktoré vyznieva v jeho podaní celkom uveriteľne.

"Ranuccio sa prehol vo dvoje a prekotúľal na bok. Caravaggio doslova cítil, ako ostrie preseklo kožu a svaly, sťaby sa mu ruka zaborila do živého mäsa. Ranucciov brat vykríkol, priskočil, vytrhol meč z pošvy a vrhol sa na Caravaggia. Už to nebol súboj, ale bitka, Giovan Francesco sa premenil na udatného vojaka na bojisku. Caravaggio sa zahnal mečom na útočníka, no ten zareagoval najjednoduchším a najúčinnejším spôsobom. Jediným plynulým pohybom vykryl úder a pokúsil sa o ripostu zhora, z vnútornej strany sokovho rapiera. Caravaggio začul škrípavý náraz dvoch čepelí, milión drobných kontaktov trhajúcich uši, keď sa meč Giovana Francesca zošmykol po ostrí jeho rapiera. Hneď nato ho hrot súperovej čepele zasiahol pod ucho." (str. 160)

Meno písané krvou sa číta rýchlo, nielen pre autorov štýl, ale aj kvôli zvedavosti, čo v čitateľovi vyvolá. Páči sa mi, že nejde o rozsiahly román, hoci v rukách niekoho iného by sa jednotlivé udalosti určite rozšírili aj o niekoľko desiatok strán. Matt Rees však, našťastie, dbá viac na epické motívy ako statické opisy či vysvetlenia. To robí z jeho románu zaujímavý pôžitok, schopný osloviť širokú skupinu čitateľov.

[Marleen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Book received from Corvus through Book Geeks.

Rome in 1605 is a place where powerful families are in competition with each other and not even the Pope has enough power to control everybody and everything. In a world where the mighty live in grand palazzos, surrounded by wealth, Caravaggio is a painter and as such considered a lowly craftsman.
Although Caravaggio’s work is starting to attract attention he lives in a place called “the Evil Garden”. A place called home by prostitutes, beggars and others on the lowest rungs of society. In this world Caravaggio’s days are divided between his art and drink, gambling and knife-fights. It is a world in which is easy to make enemies and Caravaggio finds himself on the wrong side of Ranuccio Tomassoni, the son of a powerful family.
But, when Caravaggio is invited to paint the new Pope it seems his luck has changed. And meeting and falling for Lena, a low-born fruit-seller seems to even give him a fleeting chance at happiness.
But Caravaggio is not the sort of person who can accept his blessings and be happy. Haunted by ghosts from his past and a determination to create his paintings according to his own vision, without concern for the conventions of the day, he constantly balances between acceptance and condemnation.
When he finally kills his rival, not even Caravaggio’s powerful friends can protect him from the dead-sentence now hanging over his head.
Leaving behind the woman he loves, the painter flees to Malta in the hope that acceptance into the Order of Malta may save his life. But even that far away from home his past as well as new enemies continue to make his life a delicate balancing act.

This is a fascinating book.
The descriptions of Caravaggio’s paintings, his passion for his work and the turmoil in his private life all come together to create a very vivid picture.
The historical setting comes alive on the pages of this book. You can see and smell the rot in the Evil Garden and picture the grandeur of the palazzos and cathedrals.
Caravaggio is clearly a very troubled man and while initially I found myself wondering why he seemed so determined to put himself in danger and risk the success that appeared to be within his reach, by the end of the book I felt I understood the man and his need to protect what he considered to be his honour.
Matt Rees has a clever way with words. I’m not very familiar with Caravaggio’s work, but I imagine that the darkness and shadows that appear in the painter’s work had a great deal to do with the way in which this story was told. I always had the feeling that there were things hiding in the background; things I couldn’t quite see but could feel under the surface, threatening to catch up with the main character.

Caravaggio, of course, disappeared in July 1610 and although it was rumoured that he died of a fever, his body was never found.
Matt Rees, in this book, presents the reader with a cause of death and a reason for the painter’s demise that for me, after reading the whole book, is both believable and heartbreaking.

The story in this book captured me, although I can’t escape the feeling that I might have gotten to a greater understanding for the story and Caravaggio’s character if I had a better knowledge of his work.
I think this is a book that would be greatly enjoyed by those who enjoy a good historical thriller as well as those who love art, especially Caravaggio’s work.

[Justin Neville · Rating 5 out of 5]

I just read this book for the second time and my original review, as below, still stands.

More 4.5 stars than 5, but definitely more than 4!!

This won't be to everyone's taste but I found this novel of Caravaggio astonishingly inventive and beautiful - and, yes, unbearably sad. The psychological insight inherent in this portrayal - not just of the lead character, but of human life in general - feels movingly accurate and perceptively observed.

I read this novel very slowly. It wasn't a page turner. It was a page immerser. Read a page or two, be moved, be impressed, put it down and let it wash over you.

Someone said you won't enjoy this if you're not interested in art or you won't enjoy it if you can't be looking at the paintings whose stories it's telling at the same time. For me, although I probably will have a look at the paintings at some point, for now I choose not to - that would be bring out of the magic of the novel. It's a fiction - I love the paintings and the man as portrayed in the beautiful book I've just read. Looking at the real paintings would bring me back to the real world too soon!!

[Judie · Rating 5 out of 5]

WARNING: To get the most from this book have internet access nearby so you can look at the two dozen Caravaggio paintings mentioned as you read about them. You may also find yourself heading to the closest museum with an original Caravaggio to see it with new eyes.
The title, A NAME IN BLOOD, is perfect for this book. It represents Caravaggio’s life as well as his masterpieces.
After the death of his father and grandfather in Caravaggio in 1577, Michaelangelo Merisi was taken in by the Colonna family, one of wealth and standing in Carravaggio. He and the youngest son, Fabrizio, were very close. The mother, The Marchesa, Costanza, became his protector. When the time came for him to leave, she sent him to Milan to study art. Known as Caravaggio, he became the most important painter of his time though, as is often the case, his full genius wasn’t recognized until after his death..
Society had strong divisions between the classes although upper class men and Church leaders frequently intermingled with prostitutes when it suited the men. Caravaggio, however, was assailed for his use of prostitutes as models for many of the women in his paintings, particularly when they and other lower class women posed for major religious figures. The upper, protected classes could cheat and get away with murder. However, someone harming one of them, even in self-defense, could be executed. Caravaggio escaped from Rome to Malta to save his own life after he had a peasant woman, whom he loved, pose for the Madonna and was forced into a duel as a result. Later, while speaking with Fabrizio, who had also fled after he killed a man, Fabrizio asked, “It seems sometimes a greater death to have survived my duels than to have been the loser....Do you ever feel as though all your freedom and happiness expired with him?
Caravaggio disappeared on his way from Naples to Rome in 1610. His body was never found.
Caravaggio brought a new sense of realism into his paintings. Most of his subjects were religious figures – the Catholic Church and members of its hierarchy were his primary sponsors.
“Paint a canvas that doesn’t conform to the Cardinal-Nephew’s idea of the order of the world and an artist might forfeit more than his commission. It would be the fire for him.” He utilized shadows and avoided the popular perspective of the subjects looking adoringly toward Heaven or the holy subjects. His agonizing, at times, subjects displayed honest emotion, often in the throes of death. “Shadows revealed things at their clearest. A man’s face in the daylight was full of detail. One might spend hours reading what it had to say to you and understand nothing. In the darkness of the tavern, you detected no more than a malevolent glimmer of an eye, or the sudden vicious baring of a tooth. The shadows distilled a man to his basic wickedness – or to the sufferings most worthy of our compassion.”
At one point, Caravaggio’s friend, Onorio Longhi, an architect, asked, “Can a painting have a soul? Can the churches I design bring salvation? When an artist draws, does he create something holy in his own mind?” The answer to that runs through the story of Caravaggio’s paintings.
When I first saw “David Holding the Head of Goliath,” I marveled at the three-dimensionality as David’s arm reached out with Goliath’s head in front of it. Matt Rees explained how Caravaggio accomplished that as well as other of his painting techniques.
A NAME IN BLOOD is a well-written, well researched introduction to Caravaggio, the genius with a temper and sense of justice, his masterpieces, and the times in which he lived. My only complaint is that I would have appreciated more detail about both his life and paintings. Much of it was the repetition of same experiences in different circumstances didn’t give him as much depth as I would have liked. I’m grateful that Matt Rees has so many interests (Mozart, Palestinians, Israelis) and the ability to tell their stories so well through all of his writings. I wonder where he will take us next time.

[L · Rating 5 out of 5]

Matt Rees merges crime with historical fiction to create an astonishing outcome, of a new novel that is a must read for any fan of compelling writing. This beautiful, striking hardback book stands out on any bookshelf with its intriguing cover and fascinating blurb, which cannot fail to capture ones imagination. Set in 1605 within the exquisite country of Italy that captures all your senses with the grand Palazzos, Frescoed cathedrals and historical art that makes up Rome, you feel as if you are there. Atmospheric and realistic I was transported into a world of harsh roughness, knife crime and whores that the author makes so alive. Following Caravaggio’s journey as he is commissioned to paint the Pope and invited into the Borghese family’s inner circle, you are able to grasp how someone coming from nothing ends up as something by not only talent but connections. In a sometimes dangerous and rough existence, one can see how it matters who you know and how you have to push forwards being quite forthright to become noticed.

Love can be a weakness hence with Lena this great painter’s reputation and life is at stake, as everything he cares about could all be lost. Standing on a knife edge I sat rigidly to the edge of my seat in suspense, as the intensity increased and the tension heightened as the plot thickened. I did not find it surprising that because he had fallen in love with a penniless young woman that he would not only be frowned upon and shunned, but that it would be a difficult relationship to maintain and keep his promise to without controversy. Even powerful patrons and those of high social status are not always willing to be cooperative and helpful when it comes to such dishonorable and quite scandalous actions, hence I could not help but sympathize with him in the hopes that things would become easier for him. As a great artist he painted from life and of the one whom he loved, with much sadness whilst being shunned. After an expedition and relentless struggle Caravaggio becomes a noble knight as well as one of the most famous artists within Italy, but then he disappears adding another twist in this most exciting of tales.

The journey that the reader travels on is one full of action, drama and suspense and when you think that it cannot get any more intense and dramatic then the author adds in another huge twist that turns things upside down on their head. I was lost within a romantic, artistic era that was colorful, vivid and non-stop commotion that was so breathtaking I could not put it down. The mixture of crime and mystery made it such an exciting storyline that I could not help but loose myself within, with such a captivating writing style that blew me away. I feel so privileged to have had the opportunity of reading such a remarkable new work that I can predict to be a bestseller this year that deserves to be at the top of the bookshelf. Matt Rees is an incredible author whom has surpassed himself with a book that just shows his ability and flair, that I could see being repeated ten fold.

[Robin Carter · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'm a voracious reader of historical fiction, but not much historical crime fiction, I steer away from crime drama's where possible. But this one intrigued me, and im glad it did. The author appears to have a passion for the period and Caravaggio. The Borgia's are topical right now with the TV series and its nice too read contrasting characters and settings.
The true victory of this book is the passion of the author, while the story is well told and tragic, its the writing that transports you to the 1600's to experience the sights, sounds, smells and emotions of the people and time.
For those who might think this would be a plodding period piece, its not, its atmospheric, action packed and full of dramatic twists and turns. I soon forgot this was a crime drama, it became a deeply involved story that just transported me to a more artistic era of time, and a more dangerous time, when life was lived to the full.
Highly Recommended
(Parm)

Product Description
Italy, 1605: For the ruling Borgia family, Rome is a place of grand palazzos and frescoed cathedrals. For the lowly artist Caravaggio, it is a place of rough bars, knife fights, and grubby whores. Until he is commissioned to paint the Pope... Soon, Caravaggio has gained entry into the Borgia family's inner circle, and becomes the most celebrated artist in Rome. But when he falls for Lena, a low-born fruit-seller, and paints her into his Madonna series as a simple peasant woman, Italian society is outraged. Discredited as an artist, but unwilling to retract his vision of the woman he loves, Caravaggio is forced into a duel - and murders a nobleman. Even his powerful patrons cannot protect him from a death sentence. So Caravaggio flees to Malta, where, before he can be pardoned, he must undergo the rigorous training of the Knights of Malta. His paintings continue to speak of his love for Lena. But before he can return to her, as a Knight and a noble, Caravaggio, the most famous artist in Italy - simply disappears...

[Robert · Rating 4 out of 5]

A Name in Blood is the story of Caravaggio, one of the most infamous painters, whose life was unusually full of depravity and violence. The story starts just as he receives a papal commission, and continues to follow his life until he disappears from the historical record.

The tale is largely well written and quite engaging, occasionally quite thrilling. The writing voice is generally good, but dialogue sometimes feels inauthentic and modern: this detracts a little from the reading experience.

Perhaps because the novel is bound to stay true to the historic record, the story does not quite develop as a fictional narrative would. Intrigue and tension are set up as they would be in a thriller, but the payoffs don't always satisfy the thriller template.

Meanwhile, I struggle to empathise with a character who seems to be turbulent, violent, ferocious, and yet supposedly racked by guilt. Guilty thugs? Not quite my thing. And Caravaggio, as talented as he is as a painter, is a thug...

3.5/5 stars

[Francesca · Rating 3 out of 5]

Nice but sad book, especially the way women are portrayed

[Jana · Rating 4 out of 5]

3,5*
Je to moja prvotina zo sudka pribehov o osobnostiach z radov umenia. Kedze maliari a ich obrazy mi v podstate nic nehovoria (okrem zakladnych znalosti), aj tak sa mi kniha citala velmi dobre. Dokonca mi nerobili problem ani talianske mena. Co mi vsak problem robilo, boli autorove skoky v case. Priklad: Caravaggio maluje obraz a mysli na Lenu...zrazu uz je na ceste na pijatiku a do bordelu. Nejako mi tie jeho nalady ako na hojdacke trosku liezli na nervy. Ano...vraj bol sialeny, ale mna to v citani rusilo. Naladila som sa na jednu liniu pribehu a zrazu otocka o 180° a citam jeho sebaobvinujuci monolog na jednej strane a potvrdzovanie si svojich cinov na strane druhej. Ako Dr. Jekyl a Mr. Hyde 😂😂. Inak naozaj fajn citanie. Ta brutalita zivota v taliansku 17.storocia bola ohromna. Hlavne ta spina a smrad, ako sa ani slachta nekupala a nemenila si spodne pradlo. Ako mestania bezne chodili v osr...gatiach a vobec im to nevadilo. Tiez boli krasne opisane jeho diela a ako sa k nim dopracoval. Az som mala chut kazde jedno hladat na nete a dokladne si ho prezriet. Takze urcite som s takymto typom litetatury neskoncila.

[Peter · Rating 3 out of 5]

The painter Caravaggio’s life from 1605 with an explanation for his 1610 disappearance, has moments of real interest, particularly in describing the fragility of 17th century Italian life and the ubiquitous Church, but the artist himself is a little self-destructive as jealous rivals, warring families, Machiavellian religious figures, his tragic romantic interest, patrons, earthy friends and the Knights of Malta all conspire to make life difficult in Rome, Malta and Naples. Atmospheric and authentic, but it didn’t quite work for me.

[Michelle E · Rating 3 out of 5]

Matt Rees writes in lovely style, very descriptive, you can vision yourelf walking down the Roman streets. I bought this book in Rome on my last trip there and it was lovely to recollect some of my own memories while reading.

However, I wasn't the biggest fan of the story line in this book. I continuously felt as if the story was ongoing without clear begin -mid - ending. Though I felt for Caravaggio and could definitely sympathize with Lena, it felt a bit strung out.

[Katka Bar. · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wau, doteraz som o Caravaggiovi vedela len veľmi málo, videla obrazy, ktoré sú na tú dobu viac ako skvelé.. No až po prečítaní tohto románu človek naozaj ocení maestrovu tvorbu, precíti tú bolesť, túžbu po šťastí a (nenaplnenej) láske a zároveň veľkú chuť žiť podľa seba a svojich predstáv.

[Martina · Rating 5 out of 5]

Keď som pred časom prvýkrát nahliadla do edície "život slávnych" od Slovenského spisovateľa, okamžite si ma získala - postavami, ktoré knihy približovali, rozprávačským umením, ktoré prezentovali, chytľavosťou, pútavosťou... Na poprednom mieste sa u mňa dlho držal Stoneov Smäd po živote, no Matt Rees ho svojím Menom písaným krvou - pôsobivým príbehom talianskeho velikána Caravaggia, ktorého neraz považovali za neokrôchkaného surovca - predčil, resp. minimálne sa mu vyrovnal.

Rees verne vykreslili pompéznosť i špinu barokového Ríma, s citom, jemnosťou i dramatickosťou vernou maliarovmu životu priblížil roky túžob, snáh a sklamaní, pouličných šarvátok, krčmových radostí aj lopoty vo vyhnanstve. Dovolil nám nahliadnuť do tajomstiev Caravaggiovho srdca i jeho umeleckej techniky, do domácností vznešených talianskych rodín, zdobených palácov, skromných kutíc kláštorov či nevábnych uličiek a odľahlých kútov veľkolepého Ríma.

Neviem či to spôsobilo lascívne až zhýralé prostredie, v ktorom Caravaggio pôsobil, jeho prchká povaha a zanietené držanie sa vlastného presvedčenia, fakt, že bol vyvrheľom spoločnosti, alebo na tom svoj podiel mal spôsob, akým autor zachytil maliarov bujarý, no neľahký život plný vnútorných rozbrojov a nekonečného utekania, no totálne ma opantal, chytil ma do svojich pazúrov a nepustil, ani na sekundu som sa nenudila. Rozhodne príbeh, ktorý sa oplatí prečítať.

[Monthly Book Group · Rating 4 out of 5]

This 2012 book is about the life and death of the Italian Renaissance painter Caravaggio. Caravaggio fell out of fashion for a long period, and only re-emerged in the 20th century as a true great.
To write the book Matt Rees learnt to paint, studied the artist who inspired the book, visited galleries throughout the world and was taught sword fencing. What he then produced was a novel about power, love, duplicity and patronage.

His use of language was effective and sometimes shone. Thus the artist, Michelangelo Merisi (called Caravaggio after his home town) first sees the female he would come to love:

“The soles of her bare feet were turned upward as she leaned forward to brush. They were soiled in such striations of black brown and grey that he could taste the dirt on his tongue”.

To add to the significance of this vivid sentence, Caravaggio saw her when he was visiting a Cardinal in Rome and she was his menial employee.

The proposer particularly liked the challenging conversations between the artist and his patrons. These were superficially the idle creation of the author. However, nothing can obscure the contrast between the sacred subjects he was commissioned to paint and, the actual works, which for the papal aristocracy of the late Renaissance were almost heretical. Often he used prostitutes as models for sacred subjects, and did little to disguise their earthy appearance, or indeed their identity. Caravaggio was revealed in his works to be brave to the point of folly, but saved by his sincerity and his genius. Rees was thus on sure ground when he explored Caravaggio’s art through invented conversations between a sophisticated religious elite and a rebellious artist.

We had descriptions of Rome in this period: the beauty, the sin, the grace, the vulgarity and the cruelty.

What of the detective in Mr Rees? DNA tests suggest Caravaggio was buried in Porto Ercole, so was he in fact on the return journey to Rome? Why did the Knights of Malta cooperate if Rees was to blame one of their number – Roero - for executing a great artist in return for the release of the rather doubtful Fabrizio? Why was the death not investigated by one of the artist’s important friends?
What of the characters? The main relationship is between Caravaggio and Lena. He is presented with the classic “behave and live with me, or go off and die”. The way he goes off and dies could have been taken from an Italian opera. We have the wager on the outcome of the tennis match, the numerous scenes where he is urged to pay the debt, the elegant development of the feud until a duel with Ranuncio becomes not foolish but necessary. Having been engulfed in this he does not see Lena to try to explain. He flees. This sets up the remainder of his life…..

This is an extract from a review at http://monthlybookgroup.wordpress.com/. Our reviews are also to be found at http://monthlybookgroup.blogspot.com/

[Valdemir Martins · Rating 3 out of 5]

Um nome escrito em sangue, luz e sombra.

As obras literárias, usualmente, iniciam-se com um fato ou frase de referência, como a ponteira de um compasso que lhe possibilitará toda a abrangência do enredo. E, do mesmo modo, biografias iniciam-se nas origens ou nascimento do biografado.
Não é o caso da obra Caravaggio - Um Nome Escrito em Sangue, do talentoso escritor e jornalista galês Matt Rees. Uma excelente biografia romanceada, cujo texto faz um jogo de luz e sombra como a extraordinária obra do artista e como sua própria vida.
A vida Michelangelo de Merisi (da Caravaggio), assim conhecido por ter nascido nessa cidade italiana – é apresentada de forma bastante realista neste livro, resultado da formação jornalística de Rees. A obra nos faz vivenciar, entre os séculos 16 e 17, o princípio do movimento Barroco nas artes, retratando os conflitos vivenciais e espirituais de Caravaggio.
Suas origens e infância somente são apresentadas no meio da obra, entremeada por importantes dados históricos daquele momento em Roma e na alta cúpula da igreja católica, da qual Caravaggio chegou a ser um protegido.
Mas o fundamental deste livro são as descrições de como o pintor elaborava e produzia suas famosas telas; seus modelos, ambientes e motivações emocionais; assim como sua realidade de vida transferida para o âmago das telas. É recomendável, para maior proveito da leitura, que se observe na internet as obras citadas no texto para se obter um vislumbre mais exato do que é descrito, discutido pelos personagens e criticado pelos concorrentes.
Caravaggio trabalhava a partir da natureza das coisas, das pessoas, das situações autênticas. Em suas obras, mostrava o que captava dessas ocorrências reais revelando assim o significado mais profundo de seus temas. A ansiedade, o sofrimento e a esperança eram transferidos das pessoas que convivia para as personagens que pintava. Segundo o próprio Rees, “Durante séculos os críticos menosprezaram Caravaggio. Mas sua influência na pintura é imensa. Rubens difundiu seu estilo pelo norte da Europa. Velazquez levou sua estética à Espanha. Ele é essencial ainda hoje para o estilo dos artistas, fotógrafos e diretores de cinema contemporâneos, como David Hockney e Martin Scorsese.”
Este livro não é uma grande obra literária, mas um brilhante escrito sobre o mais importante pintor do barroco; um revolucionário nas técnicas e no estilo. Um pintor que tirou os santos do céu e das nuvens para colocá-los onde viveram: na terra e no meio da pobreza e da sujeira. Até a sujidade das unhas dos retratados por Caravaggio foi copiada por importantes – ou não - pintores a partir de então.
Apesar de sua obra ser dominada por temas bíblicos e por ter convivido com a alta cúpula da igreja católica, da Inquisição e dos Cavaleiros, Caravaggio sempre teve uma existência difícil e sofrida, e nunca abandonou sua vida mundana, violenta e nefanda.

Valdemir Martins
13/08/2019.
Leia mais em: https://contracapaladob.blogspot.com

[LC · Rating 2 out of 5]

Mreh. Nice idea, but it didn't take me with it.

Caravaggio is a bit of a dumbass who spends most of his time thinking of the terrible consequences of the most inappropriate thing to do and then doing it. And then wondering why he did it. And being full of woe. These constant punctuations of interjected woe really started to piss me off.

>So and so walked up to Caravaggio. I have just extracted myself from a terrible situation and am now safe. It would be a very bad idea if I insulted him. "You're a dick", said Caravaggio, making an era-appropriate insulting gesture with his hands. Oh no. What have I done. I have insulted him and thrown away any chance of a happy life. Such woe.

This infuriates me because I just want to see the scene happen, not have some 'helpful' audience member leaning over and explaining everything. Oh gosh, is insulting that man of higher status than him a terrible decision? I would never have guessed if he hadn't said so *while* doing it. It just makes him look stupid - I mean he's saying to himself right now that he must not do a thing and then *immediately* doing the thing. There's illogical, there's heat-of-the-moment decisions, and then there's being an idiot.

The other characters are weak in the extreme and serve only to act as mirrors for Caravaggio. They literally think only about Caravaggio. They have nothing else in their lives. They don't get to interact with anyone who is not Caravaggio. Even Caravaggio can't sit quietly alone in a corner without thinking about Caravaggio. I understand that he's the main character but this single-minded unblinking focus on Caravaggio the Tortured Artist Who Makes Really Bad Decisions is extremely tiring.

There was also a classic piece of meta-mind-reading:

>"He sensed that she knew what he felt. She always noticed the smallest details of his feelings"

Authors: Telepathy is not a thing (unless you're writing that kind of book.) Stop this insanity.

[Ruth · Rating 3 out of 5]

c2012: FWFTB: Caravaggio, fruit-seller, Madonna, duel, Malta. What a beautifully written story but so sad! Not the ending that I was hoping for seeing as this was actually open to options. But still..a great read. I have gone through the body of work by this author and sadly the other historical book does not appeal to me purely because of the subject matter eg Mozart but I have reserved the first in the Omar Yussef detective series to see if and how the style changes. In a strange example of synchronicity, Caravaggio as a topic appealed to me because of the Caravaggio-loving Detective Nic Costa - an on going character in the books by David Hewson. " "It seems sometimes a greater death to have survived my duel than to have been the loser,' Fabrizio said. 'Do you ever feel as though all your freedom and happiness expired with him?' And I am not sure I will ever be able to talk seriously about art having read this ditty - "I'd like to put my penis/In Botticelli's Birth of Venus/ But Michelangelo's Sacra Famiglia/Doesn't make me want to feel ye"

[Felicity Terry · Rating 2 out of 5]

A novel based on the life and subsequent disappearance of renowned 17th century Italian artist Michelangelo Merisi (Caravaggio) A Name In Blood takes a colourful look at life (and indeed death) as lived by many at that time whilst at the same time exploring what may well have happened to the artist.

Alas not altogether to my tastes, I feel that A Name In Blood is a story that will probably be enjoyed more by those with a deep love or at least a great appreciation of art as the author seems to concentrate more on this aspect of the story than any other.

Nevertheless, a wonderfully colourful descriptive work, Matt Rees paints a truly magical picture of events whether or not he is describing the methods used by Caravaggio , a street fight or a bar room scene which makes this a worthwhile read.

DISCLAIMER: Read and reviewed on behalf of NEWBOOKS magazine. I was merely asked for my honest opinion, no financial compensation was asked for nor given.

[P.J. Cadavori · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is an intriguing book which speculates about the life of Caravaggio. Arguably one of the greatest painters of all time, he had a life filled with anger, fear and constant fighting, both physical and verbal. His life was particularly difficult in spite of high-born patronage because he would not compromise his beliefs - slight shades of Ayn Rand’s The Fountainhead? Matt Rees’ writing style gets you deeply into the life and loves of Caravaggio and it becomes a compelling story which ends brilliantly with his theory as to how Caravaggio disappeared. It’s the sort of book which benefits from a leisurely second reading, so that the progress and style of the book can be more readily appreciated.

[Vivienne · Rating 5 out of 5]

Matt Rees again turns his keen mind for a mystery to consider the fate of the artist Caravaggio. Reading his notes and material on his website it is clear that Rees has immersed himself in Caravaggio's life and even taken up fencing and painting in his style and following in his footsteps.

It is a masterful work of historical fiction and certainly evokes the period.

[Melisende · Rating 4 out of 5]

Loved it as the four stars indicate. I had only this year watched a movie about Caravaggio, and having read the premise of this tome, I was already intrigued. His life was notorious, he fate was mysterious, his work enduring.

[Jo · Rating 3 out of 5]

This novel follows the adult life of the artist Caravaggio and gives an explanation for his mysterious disappearance/death. I didn't know anything about Caravaggio beforehand so I couldn't say how much of a poetic licence had been taken. But, it was a good historical novel and I enjoyed reading it.

[Andrea Baretto · Rating 3 out of 5]

Thriller, mistero, profezia e segreti non sono riuscito a trovarli in questo libro. Il titolo in italiano è, a mio parere un pochino lontano dalla storia che realmente viene raccontata.
Nel complesso la storia mi è piaciuta.

[Anette · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 stars actually...
http://www.thebookbag.co.uk/reviews/i...

[Adip Puri · Rating 3 out of 5]

actually wanted to give it a 3.5
great for those who like art and history
not much crime though matt rees is a crime writer