Caravaggio is one of the bad boys of classic art – his life was anything but quiet and peaceful.

So it’s always surprising to see how he mastered topics that were quite contrary to his lifestyle. But maybe he longed in his heart for such a good and quiet life?

From Wikipedia (which has a nice entry about this painting):

The seven acts represented on the painting are the following Corporal Works of Mercy traditionally recognized by the Roman Catholic church, as follows:

On the right appear: (1) the burial of the dead and the episode of the so-called Carità Romana (Cimon’s daughter breastfeeding her father, who was sentenced to life in prison), containing at once the two charitable acts of (2) visiting prisoners and (3) feeding the hungry.

Appearing in the foreground are St. Martin and the beggar, symbolizing (4) dressing the naked. Next to this scene, the host and St. James of Compostela allude to the (5) offering of hospitality to pilgrims. Samson drinking from the ox jaw represents (6) relieving the thirsty. The youth on the ground behind the beggar of St. Martin may also represent the merciful gesture of (7) caring for the sick.