Caravaggio The Musicians Tee

A spectacular painting by Caravaggio (Michelangelo Merisi) (Italian, 1571–1610) features on our Museum-inspired tee. The Musicians (1597) was commissioned by Cardinal Francesco Maria del Monte, the artist’s first great patron in Rome. While the presence of the mythological Cupid, paired with the youths’ classical clothing, indicates that this scene is in fact allegorical, Caravaggio likewise engages with contemporary life. At the time, musical performances were reserved for male singers, and a concert such as this—complete with classical costumes—may well have taken place in the cardinal’s home. Lending another layer of realism to the painting is the artist’s self-portrait in the second figure from the right.