5 David And Goliath

Caravaggio

This striking painting is the renowned David and Goliath by Caravaggio, an Italian Baroque master of the 16th century. Caravaggio is no small name. His artwork influenced many an artist throughout time, including Rembrandt. Almost everyone views him as a perfect artistic genius, right?

Not so much. As his fame grew, so did his rap sheet. In the space of six years, he was charged 14 times, usually over minor altercations such as hitting waiters on the mustache with plates full of artichokes. (He was essentially that annoying guy at the bar.) However, it all got a bit serious for the artist when he was discovered to be illegally carrying a sword, which raised police suspicions over the temper of the respected genius.

In 1606, Caravaggio’s criminal life reached its peak with a fatal tennis court battle. That’s right—tennis. Court evidence suggests that he killed a man named Ranuccio Tomassoni while filled with red-hot rage over either a woman or a gambling debt.

After he was taken to prison and put on trial, Caravaggio fled to Malta. He was perhaps even more romanticized by the Italian public and began to create art, such as David and Goliath, that reflected his darker, sinful side.

Soon after, it was revealed that the Pope had decreed a death sentence for him. But the artist died soon after in 1610, presumably of lead poisoning from his paints. It was a fitting end for the most talented but rancorous artist of his time.

4 No Escape

Charles Bronson

This intriguing and deeply metaphorical drawing highlights the nature of imprisonment: being trapped both physically and mentally. Who would have guessed that this subtly skillful and profoundly meaningful drawing was thought up and emerged at the hands of Charles Bronson?

Often dubbed the “most violent prisoner in Britain,” he was first convicted of armed robbery in 1974 and sentenced to seven years. Not that bad, all things considered. It was his run-ins with guards and other inmates, holding hostages, and undertaking violent attacks that saw his sentence extended to life.

It is in this environment, however, that he thrived. He cultivated his art that depicted life in prison and psychiatric hospitals and won multiple awards. He even wrote a book called Solitary Fitness that gives advice on exercising in small spaces—perhaps a must-have for those moments of boredom in the office?

As he grew increasingly interested in art, he changed his name to Charles Salvador in honor of Salvador Dali, his favorite artist. Although Bronson was still imprisoned, the Charles Salvador Art Foundation was set up to promote his artwork and “help those in positions even less fortunate than his own” to engage in art and find themselves through painting.

3 Illustrations In A Friend For Little Bear

Harry Horse

Harry Horse, a prominent children’s book illustrator and writer, changed a lot of little lives through his stories of little bears, horses, and the Loch Ness monster. His works were a staple in kids’ lives in the 1980s and ’90s.

However, behind these adorable tales and drawings lies a sinister truth about a deranged and cruel man. In 2007, when he and his terminally ill wife were found dead in each other’s arms, the world believed that they had taken their own lives with painkillers in a romantic suicide pact. However, with the causes of death kept hidden, what was later revealed shook the world.

In a drug-fueled rampage, Horse stalked around his house, declaring “it’s a wonderful night for killing.” Then he tried to end his wife’s suffering. In the end, he did so by flying into a frenzy and stabbing her so ferociously that the knife broke. He was forced to continue with a second knife.

Then he slaughtered the couples’ cat and dog, proceeded to stab himself 47 times, and bled out in their house of death.

2 Bear And Hounds

Francisco Franco

It wouldn’t surprise a lot of people to learn that this slightly disturbing depiction of a bear being attacked by hounds was painted by none other than the fascist dictator Francisco Franco. Other than ruling Spain with the harshness of, well, a bear and causing civil war, Franco painted.

His grandson, also named Francisco Franco, said that the dictator loved to spend time in his study, painting for hours to relax from the stresses of being a tyrant. Tough life, we guess.

Despite all this, the man was unequivocally evil. His encouragement of the Spanish civil war resulted in up to 500,000 deaths. Although many sources suggest that he protected Jews from Nazi Germany, he compiled a list of 6,000 Jews in Spain and gave it to the Nazis. He also repressed language and media and exerted absolute control on some regions of the country.

Due to this behavior, many scholars believe that his depiction of a bear and hounds represents him as the bear tearing apart his political opponents, the hounds.

1 Man Under Threat

Jimmy Boyle

This statue can be found in Hull and was created by none other than Scottish gangster Jimmy Boyle. It seems like gangsters have a flair for the creative. Who would’ve guessed?

In 1967, he was imprisoned with a life sentence for the murder of William Rooney but was released only 14 years later. During his time in Barlinnie Prison, he found himself creating art due to his participation in a special arts program. When he was released, he moved to Edinburgh to pursue his artistic career.

Since then, he has flourished as a novelist, fine wine lover, and artist. He is renowned across the globe for his art.