Giuseppe Cesari was nearly murdered for his art collection by the most powerful man in Rome.

Giuseppe hit the big time early. After learning the art of painting votive images from his father in southern Italy, Cesari was sent to Rome. One minute, he's pimping out the facades of Roman mansions and the next he's drafted into a team of artists decorating the Vatican. At age 13, he goes from obscurity to living the dream. A few years later, he's flying solo on projects for the Church. The papacy took notice and hired him directly. He's the most famous painter and Rome. Pope Clement VIII was such a big fan that he honored Cesari with the title of Cavaliere di Cristo (Knight of Christ). Cesari tweaked that and went by Cavaliere d'Arbino in honor of his father's hometown.

As a master painter, Cesari filled in spare time away from the Church by painting sexy mythology subjects for Rome's rich and famous. His studio included an apprentice by the name of Caravaggio. Though Caravaggio saw his former master as an inspiration to the end of his (very short and murder-filled) life, it was a connection Cesari eventually regretted.

In comes Cardinal Scipione Borghese, the Pope's nephew, basically in charge of both the Papal States and his powerful family's immense fortune. He was also an art fiend all but in love with Caravaggio's oeuvre. Cesari had a couple paintings by all his apprentices, Caravaggio included. Borghese came calling and offered Cesari pennies on the dollar for his back catalogue of Caravaggios, along with a few other select pieces. Refusing, Cesari found himself arrested on trumped up charges by Papal authorities and threatened with execution. The Cardinal cooled off and let Cesari go... after accepting a gift of 107 of the best paintings from the master's private stash.

Yep, Caravaggio worked for Cesari.

He was assigned the lowly task of paiting flowers into his boss' paintings.

Not everyone loved him: one famous art critic, Luigi Lanzi, called Cesari a "corruptor of taste in painting".