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Lecture

Patrick Bade
Icons, Part 1: Caravaggio

Sunday 22.11.2026

How to watch

This lecture starts on 22 November at 5:00pm (UK).

Summary

In the first of two lectures we take a look at artists whose fame and cult status goes beyond their art historical importance, and consider why this should be. Caravaggio (1571–1610) was the “bad boy” of Western art. Much of what we know about him comes from police records. If anything, this enhances rather than diminishes the fascination he holds for us.

Patrick Bade

An image of Patrick Bade.
Patrick Bade is a historian, writer, and broadcaster. He studied at UCL and the Courtauld Institute of Art. He was a senior lecturer at Christie’s Education for many years and has worked for the Art Fund, Royal Opera House, National Gallery, and V&A. He has published on 19th- and early 20th-century paintings and historical vocal recordings. His latest book is Music Wars: 1937–1945.