Caravaggio and Photography

A great article on the Telegraph UK about how the 16th century Painter, Caravaggio was using photography and darkroom techniques in his work 200 years before it was invented. Not only did he use a camera obscura to project images on to his canvas but actually used chemicals to treat the canvas with light-sensitive substances, including a luminescent powder made from crushed fireflies, in order to "fix" the image as 19th century photographers later would. He then used white lead mixed with chemicals such as mercury, to outline the image in greater clarity, she believes.