Michelangelo Mersi da Caravaggio (1571-1610) was one of the great innovators in the history of art. Through an analysis of paintings from his early Roman period, 1594-1602, this study situates his art within its humanistic and scientific contexts. Both his revolutionary techniques - pronounced naturalism and dramatic chiaroscuro - and his novel subject matter - still lifes and genre scenes - are viewed in their proper contemporary environment.