Giovanni Battista Caracciolo: The Shadow and Light of Neapolitan Caravaggism Giovanni Battista Caracciolo, a name often whispered alongside the titans of 17th-century Italian art, stands as a pivotal figure in the development of Neapolitan painting. Born in Naples in 1578, he emerged from the city’s vibrant artistic milieu to become one of the most significant followers of Caravaggio, shaping a distinct regional style characterized by dramatic tenebrism, intense emotion, and a profound connection to religious narratives. Despite limited biographical documentation – largely reliant on the oft…