2010 marks the 400th anniversary of Michelangelo Merisi da Caravaggio's death. He was 39 when he died and had spent half of his life painting professionally. While Caravaggio's passing came as no huge surprise to his contemporaries, the rest of us have been trying to flesh out his chronology ever since. See, when he painted, he painted in bursts and, usually, out of necessity. There seem to have been long intervals in between painting bursts when life, flight and threats of imprisonment and/or execution took over. Given the circumstances and doing the math, quite a few too many Caravaggio canvases have surfaced over the centuries to be credible.
Caravaggio, on view at the Scuderie del Quirinale, Rome (February 20-June 13, 2010) addresses this thorny issue. Every canvas and panel in the show is an authenticated, universally-accepted work from Caravaggio's hand. Moreover, this select group of 24 works spans his 18-year career. And, finally, I can't even begin to imagine how difficult it must have been to negotiate all of these International loans to bring this exhibition together. The curators and every lender is to be commended--even those lenders who will be needing their Caravaggios back before the end of the show. (After all, it is an anniversary year and, clearly, the Bad Boy of the Baroque is a huge draw.)
If you can get to Caravaggio in Rome, run, don't walk. This isn't likely to happen again in our lifetimes. If you can't, we are a sad party of two. However, we can find solace in the generosity of the Scuderie del Quirinale, which has very kindly allowed us to display a Caravaggio image gallery.
Image Credit:
Michelangelo Merisi da Caravaggio (Italian, 1571-1610)
Bacchus, 1597
Oil on canvas
95 x 85 cm (37 3/8 x 33 7/16 in.)
Galleria degli Uffizi, Florence
Image © Soprintendenza Speciale per il Patrimonio Storico Artistico ed Etnoantropologico e per il Polo Museale della cittą di Firenze
Comments
An embarrassment of riches, indeed. When I was in Rome, I tried to see as many works by Caravaggio as possible, which meant seeking out the individual museums and churches and indulging in a Caravaggio only after I’d earned the treat. This show would be like opening a 10-lb. box of chocolates and eating them all in one sitting! Sorry, I have to go wipe the drool off my chin…
I have had this event on my calendar for so long and now it is finally almost here! I will try to see it during the first couple days, just to make sure I don’t miss it (like I did the recent “Italians in Paris” exhibit!).
I am surprized that the exhibition is on only for 4 months.
Caravaggio has been my favorite painter for 40 years+ and I would love to see collection. Never been to Rome either. Will this collection travel i.e. to London. Which is a little bit nearer than Rome. As Iceland and Icelanders are broke I have no hope of travelling to Italy in the foreseeable future.
I am sitting in Dublin Airport, and in my pocket is a ticket to go see Caravaggio Exhibit in the Scuderie in Rome. I have been waiting so long to see some of these works of Caravaggio. In there is one work that was discovered in a Jesuit House in Dublin and is now housed in The National Gallery in Dublin. It is a painting of The Last Supper. I’m very happy it has been included in the exhibit, as we are very pround to have it in our gallery. If I find this site again I might post comments after it. I feel like I’m heading for Utopia, getting to see these paintings.
If you are planning on seeing the exhibition, consider grabbing a Caravaggio Card ahead of time as the lines have been very long.
With the card you have direct access to the exhibit entrance & can skip the wait in line to buy a ticket. A ticket for the double deceker bus tour around Rome is also included, plus some other minor discounts. Worth it in my opinion.
It was utopia. Seen in early April. Once in a lifetime opportunity. Stunning exhibition superlatively displayed – the crush of people did not make a really big difference because the paintings surged over it all making a profound impact on you regardless.
I was in Rome for the Marathon and very fortunate the Caravaggio Exhibition was on at the same time. I also went to see all of his paintings in the churches during my 4 week stay in Rome. I fell in love with his art style and Baroque in general and name my dog Caravaggio.
Had the privilege of going while writing my novel inspired by Caravaggio. I stayed at the exhibition four hours and pushed myself right to the front of every painting to study every detail. I think I annoyed a lot of people in the process. http://blog.thebarfight.com/