Caravaggio (played by Nigel Terry) is a protagonist in Caravaggio.
The central protagonist, a controversial painter who lives a turbulent life of brawling, gambling, and intense romantic relationships. He uses street people as models, eventually kills Ranuccio after a confession, and dies from lead poisoning while reflecting on his past. Ranuccio (played by Sean Bean) is a protagonist in Caravaggio.
A street fighter and subject/lover of Caravaggio. He introduces Lena to the artist and becomes jealous of their dynamic. Arrested for Lena's murder, he is freed by Caravaggio but confesses to the killing so they could be together, prompting Caravaggio to slit his throat. Young Caravaggio (played by Dexter Fletcher) appears in Caravaggio.
Caravaggio as a teenager, initially a street ruffian who hustles and paints. After falling ill and being cared for by priests, he catches the attention of Cardinal del Monte, who begins to nurture his artistic and intellectual development. The Pope (played by Jack Birkett) appears in Caravaggio.
Lena (played by Tilda Swinton) appears in Caravaggio.
A street woman and girlfriend of Ranuccio who becomes a model and object of attraction for Caravaggio. She announces a pregnancy, becomes the mistress of Scipione Borghese, and is later found drowned. Caravaggio mourns her and paints her dead body.
Caravaggio (1986) character relationship network mapped with AI analysis. Explore the connections, alliances, and conflicts between characters.
Characters
Caravaggio
(played by Nigel Terry) — protagonist
The central protagonist, a controversial painter who lives a turbulent life of brawling, gambling, and intense romantic relationships. He uses street people as models, eventually kills Ranuccio after...
Ranuccio
(played by Sean Bean) — protagonist
A street fighter and subject/lover of Caravaggio. He introduces Lena to the artist and becomes jealous of their dynamic. Arrested for Lena's murder, he is freed by Caravaggio but confesses to the kill...
Young Caravaggio
(played by Dexter Fletcher) — supporting
Caravaggio as a teenager, initially a street ruffian who hustles and paints. After falling ill and being cared for by priests, he catches the attention of Cardinal del Monte, who begins to nurture his...
The Pope
(played by Jack Birkett) — minor
Lena
(played by Tilda Swinton) — supporting
A street woman and girlfriend of Ranuccio who becomes a model and object of attraction for Caravaggio. She announces a pregnancy, becomes the mistress of Scipione Borghese, and is later found drowned....
Canonical Relationships
Family, romantic, and professional connections based on plot evidence.
Young Caravaggio → Caravaggio
(Meta Past Self)
The film presents Young Caravaggio as Caravaggio during his teenage years, and the dying artist remembers himself as a boy.
Caravaggio → The Pope
(Power Petitioner)
Caravaggio goes to The Pope to secure Ranuccio's freedom after the arrest.
The Pope → Ranuccio
(Power Political Authority)
Caravaggio pulls strings and goes to The Pope in order to free Ranuccio after Ranuccio is arrested.
Lena → Ranuccio
(Romantic Girlfriend)
The plot explicitly identifies Lena as Ranuccio's girlfriend.
Caravaggio → Lena
(Romantic Lover)
Lena becomes an object of attraction for Caravaggio, and she is caught kissing him.
Caravaggio → Ranuccio
(Romantic Lover)
Ranuccio becomes a potential lover of Caravaggio, and the plot states that Caravaggio is attracted to him.
Story Analysis
A dying painter revisits a life shaped by artistic ambition, unstable desire, violence, and mortality.
