Caravaggio Returns: A Blockbuster Exhibition in Rome

The Master of Light and Shadow: Caravaggio’s Enduring Legacy

Four hundred and thirty years after the trailblazing artist Michelangelo Merisi, known to the world as Caravaggio, first arrived in Rome and captivated the city with his innovative and deeply emotional art, he is once again the center of attention. The National Gallery of Ancient Art at Palazzo Barberini is hosting a major retrospective titled “Caravaggio 2025,” an exhibition that not only celebrates the artist’s extraordinary career but also offers a rare opportunity to explore his work in depth. This chronological journey through Caravaggio’s life and art spans his early days in Rome, when he relied on himself as a model due to financial constraints, to his rise as a celebrated artist favored by wealthy patrons, and finally to his later years of exile and quest for redemption through his art. The exhibition is a testament to Caravaggio’s enduring appeal and his reputation as the rebellious genius of the Baroque era.

From Humble Beginnings to Fame: Caravaggio’s Career

The exhibition, which opened on March 2024 and will run until July 6, 2025, is a fitting tribute to Caravaggio’s life and work. Thomas Clement Salomon, the director of the National Gallery, emphasized that the institution was the natural choice for such a significant exhibition, given its impressive collection of Caravaggios and the world’s most important assemblage of Caravaggesque paintings. Among the highlights of the show are three works that once belonged to Cardinal Antonio Barberini, a former resident of Palazzo Barberini, and have now returned to the palace after centuries. These include The Cardsharps from the Kimbell Art Museum in Fort Worth, Concert (The Musicians) from the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York, and St. Catherine of Alexandria from the Thyssen-Bornemisza National Museum in Madrid. The exhibition’s popularity is evident, with over 60,000 tickets sold in advance, reflecting Caravaggio’s timeless allure.

A Transatlantic Celebration: Loans from Around the World

The exhibition is a result of unprecedented international collaboration, with nine of the 24 works on display coming from foreign lenders, including five from the United States. American museums have been particularly generous, lending significant works such as St. Francis in Ecstasy from the Wadsworth Atheneum Museum of Art in Hartford, Connecticut, Martha and Mary Magdalene from the Detroit Institute of Arts, and St. John the Baptist from the Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art in Kansas City, Missouri. These loans have allowed the curators to bring together three of the four known depictions of St. John the Baptist, a rare opportunity for scholars and enthusiasts alike. The exhibition also features paintings that have recently emerged from private collections, including a portrait of Maffeo Barberini and an Ecce Homo that was discovered at an auction in Madrid in 2021 and tentatively attributed to Caravaggio.

Caravaggio, the Director: Models, Drama, and Artistic Genius

One of the most fascinating aspects of the exhibition is the way it highlights Caravaggio’s innovative approach to art. Curator Maria Cristina Terzaghi notes that Caravaggio worked like a director, using the same models in different costumes and settings to create entirely different works. For example, the courtesan Fillide Melandroni, a famous figure in Rome during Caravaggio’s time, appears in multiple works, including St. Catherine of Alexandria, Martha and Mary Magdalene, and Judith Beheading Holofernes. These paintings are displayed together in the exhibition, offering a unique insight into Caravaggio’s creative process and his ability to transform real-life figures into timeless religious and mythological characters.

Scholarship and Discovery: Unraveling the Mysteries of Caravaggio

The exhibition is not just a celebration of Caravaggio’s art but also an opportunity for scholars to address some of the unresolved questions surrounding his work. The show includes two paintings whose attribution to Caravaggio is disputed: Narcissus and Portrait of Maffeo Barberini as Protonotary Apostolic. By displaying these works alongside universally accepted Caravaggios, the curators hope to shed light on their authenticity. Additionally, the exhibition catalog provides a comprehensive overview of recent scholarship on Caravaggio, covering topics such as attribution, copies, and provenance. According to Terzaghi, about 60 paintings are definitively attributed to Caravaggio, and over a third of these are included in the show. With many of his works already on display in Roman museums and churches, the exhibition offers an unparalleled chance to study Caravaggio’s oeuvre in depth.

Caravaggio in Rome: A Legacy of Light and redemption

The exhibition is a reminder of Caravaggio’s deep connection to Rome, where he created some of his most iconic works. The city is home to many of his paintings, including altarpieces in four Roman churches. Among these is his first major religious commission, the Contarelli Chapel paintings in the French church of San Luigi, which established him as a prominent artist. The exhibition also includes the first version of The Conversion of Saul, painted for the Cerasi Chapel in Santa Maria del Popolo, which was later reworked due to its size and composition. Visitors to the exhibition can also explore Caravaggio’s only known mural, Jupiter, Neptune, and Pluto, located in the nearby Casino Boncompagni Ludovisi, adding another dimension to the show.

Conclusion: Caravaggio’s Timeless Appeal

“Caravaggio 2025” is more than just an art exhibition; it is a cultural event that highlights the enduring relevance of Caravaggio’s art. His dramatic use of light and shadow, his emotional intensity, and his ability to capture the human condition continue to captivate audiences today. This blockbuster exhibition not only offers a unique opportunity to see some of the artist’s most important works in one place but also furthers our understanding of his life and art. As Director Salomon remarked, the show is a beacon of hope and cultural enrichment in challenging times, reminding us of the power of art to inspire and transform.