CARAVAGGIO MAY HAVE DIED FROM SWORD WOUND INFLICTED IN DUEL.

1 TEMPESTUOUS ARTIST

Arguably the most famous painter in Rome, the tempestuous Italian artist Caravaggio revolutionized the art world with his “chiaroscuro” style of painting, contrasting light and shade.

2 400-YEAR-OLD MYSTERY

The cause of Caravaggio’s death has baffled experts for more than 400 years. He died in Porto Ercole, Tuscany, in 1610, his death variously blamed on malaria, intestinal infection and lead poisoning from his paints. There was even a theory he was murdered by the Knights of Malta in revenge for killing one of their number.

3 RUN OUT OF TOWN

Caravaggio killed a man in a sword fight in 1606 and was run out of town. He spent time in Malta, Sicily and Naples and was believed to be heading back to Rome in hope of a Papal pardon when he died.

4 SWORD FIGHT?

A study now suggests he may have died from an infected wound received during one of his notorious sword fights. French and Italian scientists affiliated with the Mediterranean University Hospital of Marseille now believe his demise was brought about by an infection caught after his final brawl just days before he died.

5 SKELETON FOUND

For their research, published in The Lancet Infectious Diseases journal, the scientists recovered a 17th-century skeleton, believed to be Caravaggio’s, from Porto Ercole cemetery. They believe he died of sepsis, a blood infection, although they also found high lead levels. “Concluding data suggested that the man whose skeleton was analyzed died of Staphylococcus aureus sepsis,” the researchers said, although they also noted: “He was known to be careless when using lead for painting.”