Super Short Summary

M: The Man Who Became Caravaggio, written by Peter Robb, is a detailed biography of Michelangelo Merisi da Caravaggio, a provocative and influential painter born in 1571. Through reflections from contemporaries, police records, paintings, and casual sightings, Robb constructs a vivid portrait of Caravaggio's life, highlighting his dramatic influence on the art world amid the turbulent culture of Italy during the Inquisition and the Counter-Reformation. Caravaggio's work, known for its deeply sensual and sometimes controversial religious scenes, challenged the prevailing norms of the time, leading to both acclaim and notoriety in Rome.