Caravaggesque

adjective

Ca·​ra·​vag·​gesque ˌkär-ə-ˌvä-ˈjesk How to pronounce Caravaggesque (audio)
variants or less commonly Caravaggiesque
: of, relating to, or suggesting Italian painter Michelangelo Merisi Caravaggio or the subjects or style of his paintings
The inclusion of the Dutch mannerists and the Caravaggesque painters of Utrecht owes a great deal to the fresh attention and respect which historians have lately lavished upon both these stylistic developments.Hilton Kramer, New York Times, 16 Oct. 1966
Caravaggiesque style

Word History

First Known Use

1888, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of Caravaggesque was in 1888

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Cite this Entry

“Caravaggesque.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/Caravaggesque. Accessed 13 Dec. 2025.

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