caravaggio.
Jun. 16th, 2010 09:45 am![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
duccio(AP) Italian researchers say they believe they have found the remains of the artist Caravaggio 400 years after his death and that he died from sunstroke while weakened by syphilis.
The researchers announced results Wednesday of their year-long project, saying bones dug up in the place where Caravaggio died are likely his. However, they acknowledge there is only an 85 percent probability they are right and they can never be fully certain.
Caravaggio died in Porto Ercole, Tuscany in 1610 aged 39. His bones were never located and the cause of his death never ascertained. Suggested causes have ranged from murder, to sudden fever, drowning, or syphilis.
The researchers conducted carbon dating and DNA testing on the bones. Team leader Silvano Vinceti said this same set of bones also has high levels of lead and other metals associated with painting.
To this day, his remains are officially missing.
The researchers announced results Wednesday of their year-long project, saying bones dug up in the place where Caravaggio died are likely his. However, they acknowledge there is only an 85 percent probability they are right and they can never be fully certain.
Caravaggio died in Porto Ercole, Tuscany in 1610 aged 39. His bones were never located and the cause of his death never ascertained. Suggested causes have ranged from murder, to sudden fever, drowning, or syphilis.
The researchers conducted carbon dating and DNA testing on the bones. Team leader Silvano Vinceti said this same set of bones also has high levels of lead and other metals associated with painting.
To this day, his remains are officially missing.