It is now the summer of 1606, and 14 years have passed since Caravaggio first arrived in Rome in the first pages of Book 1 of The Palette and the Sword. Caravaggio has been terribly wounded by a rusty sword in one of his typical fights. Just outside of Rome, he has been left with a group of circus performers who are well paid to try and keep him alive. Contessa Colonna arrives and claims that Caravaggio is the greatest living painter, that they must heal him quickly, and that it is imperative he begins painting again as soon as possible. Luckily, Caravaggio is back on his feet in just a few weeks.
Buy Caravaggio: The Palette and the Sword: Book 2The Pope’s men are on the search for Caravaggio claiming he has killed the man he fought. The carnival workers are already firmly in Caravaggio’s corner and save him from the Pope’s lackeys. The circus moves on to Naples where Contessa Colonna awaits. Caravaggio is instantly commissioned by the Brotherhood of the Pio Monte Della Misericordia (Pious Mount of Mercy) whose mission it is “to alleviate the suffering of the sick and desperate at the hospital for the incurables.” Caravaggio is asked to create an eight-foot tall altar depicting the seven corporal works of mercy.
Caravaggio is obsessed with the price on his head, even though all seems pretty safe for him in Naples where he is already the most regarded artist in the land. Instead of enjoying his fame, he hops the first galley to Malta. He never stops attempting to get a pardon from the Pope. Unfortunately, once a pardon is on its way, Caravaggio’s fighting ways catch up with him in more ways than one.
The book ends with story notes mostly to help with some translation issues and explanations of characters in paintings. The notes are quite helpful. There is also a good-sized Caravaggio bibliography. This is followed by a Milo Manara Gallery, consisting of four full-page color prints. It is interesting to compare the works of Manara and Caravaggio next to each other. Manara may not be a Caravaggio, but it is obvious why their work looks so good together. Following the Manara prints are two galleries of Caravaggio paintings. One to cover the period in which Book 2 takes place (1606-1610) and a bonus gallery covering important works from the years 1595-1609.
Milo Manaro wrote the story, created all the art (except for actual work by Caravaggio inserted into the frames of the comic), and the colors were co-created with Simona Manara. The translation from the Italian is by Dr. Jamie Richards. Edits and letters are handled by J. Michael Catron. The frontispiece claims this book is Volume 1B, so fingers crossed we are just at the beginning of what Fantagraphics has named the Milo Manara Signature Edition Library.
