Seven Acts of Mercy. The Seven Works of Mercy, also known as The Seven Acts of Mercy, is an oil painting by Italian painter Caravaggio, circa 1607.
The painting depicts the seven corporal works of mercy in traditional Catholic belief, which are a set of compassionate acts concerning the material needs of others. The painting was made for, and is still housed in, the church of Pio Monte della Misericordia in Naples.
Originally, it was meant to be seven separate panels around the church; however, Caravaggio combined all seven works of mercy in one composition which became the church's altarpiece. The painting is better seen from il coreto in the first floor.
The titular seven works/acts of mercy are represented in the painting as follows: Bury the dead In the background, two men carry a dead man. Visit the imprisoned, and feed the hungry On the right, a woman visits an imprisoned man and gives him milk from her breast.
This image alludes to the classical story of Roman Charity. Shelter the homeless A pilgrim asks an innkeeper for shelter. Clothe the naked St. Martin of Tours, fourth from the left, has torn his robe in half and given it to the naked beggar in the foreground, recalling the saint's popular legend. Visit the sick St. Martin greets and comforts the beggar who is a cripple. Refresh the thirsty Samson drinks water from the jawbone of an ass. American art historian John Spike notes that the
The painting depicts the seven corporal works of mercy in traditional Catholic belief, which are a set of compassionate acts concerning the material needs of others. The painting was made for, and is still housed in, the church of Pio Monte della Misericordia in Naples.
Originally, it was meant to be seven separate panels around the church; however, Caravaggio combined all seven works of mercy in one composition which became the church's altarpiece. The painting is better seen from il coreto in the first floor.
The titular seven works/acts of mercy are represented in the painting as follows: Bury the dead In the background, two men carry a dead man. Visit the imprisoned, and feed the hungry On the right, a woman visits an imprisoned man and gives him milk from her breast.
This image alludes to the classical story of Roman Charity. Shelter the homeless A pilgrim asks an innkeeper for shelter. Clothe the naked St. Martin of Tours, fourth from the left, has torn his robe in half and given it to the naked beggar in the foreground, recalling the saint's popular legend. Visit the sick St. Martin greets and comforts the beggar who is a cripple. Refresh the thirsty Samson drinks water from the jawbone of an ass. American art historian John Spike notes that the
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