Not long ago, I had the pleasure of playing C's (And Galileo's) patron, Cardinal Francisco del Monte in "The Innocents". As written, that part was a hoot to play, even if it wasn't historically accurate! In my research, I found that the Church's main objection to the painting was Caravaggio's use of beggars and street people for the Apostles, and the body of a prostitute who drowned herself for the central figure. With his usual impeccable draftsmanship, he shows someone who is obviously dead and beginning to bloat. Those dirty, bare feet are to suggest her profession, just to cock a snook at the powers that be and to amuse his peculiar patron.