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The Hindu
a day ago
- Entertainment
- The Hindu
Caravaggio's Magdalene in Ecstasy travels to Bengaluru
'This is the first time an original Caravaggio has travelled to India,' says Alfonso Tagliaferri, Consul General of Italy in Bengaluru, at a press conference preceding the unveiling of Magdalene in Ecstasy by Renaissance artist Michelangelo Merisi da Caravaggio in Bengaluru at the National Gallery of Modern Art (NGMA). 'It defines a very good moment of the bilateral relations that we are living in now,' he adds. The painting depicts Mary of Magdala in a state of almost-erotic spiritual rapture, semi-reclining, draped in scarlet robes with bared shoulders and flowing auburn hair, against a dark background: an especially pronounced use of the classic chiaroscuro technique of Renaissance art called tenebrism, which he is often credited as having introduced. 'Art historians, when they talk of Caravaggio, quite often use the term realist, but the correct definition would be theatricality — the way he composed paintings was very theatrical,' explains Andrea Anastasio, Director of the Italian Cultural Centre, who was also present at the press conference. 'Of course, there is a lot of reality because he painted with real models, which sometimes generated trouble,' says Anastasio. For instance, in his famous painting of a dying Madonna, The Death of the Virgin, he is believed to have used a prostitute, 'and that caused a lot of noise in the public… the church refused to take the painting.' Caravaggio, he continues, radically changed art, particularly because of the way he used light. 'We have to keep in mind that there is a pre-Caravaggio and post-Caravaggio, when it comes to painting in Europe,' he says, pointing out that many artists, including Rembrandt and Velázquez, drew inspiration from his use of light. 'Caravaggism is a fashion where artists used his way of painting pictures and his way of using light.' An important artist Magdalene in Ecstasy is believed to have been painted in 1606, while Caravaggio was in hiding, after he had killed a man, Ranuccio Tommason, in a brawl. 'Caravaggio has a troubled, really tragic life,' says Anastasio, adding that the artist was a temperamental man with a difficult childhood. 'You have to keep in mind that, at the age of six, in one day, he lost his father, his aunt, uncle and another very close relative due to plague,' he says. The remaining family left Milan to escape the epidemic, moving to the town of Caravaggio in Bergamo, Lombardy, where he was raised by his mother and, during this period, they appeared to have faced financial strife. His talent, however, by most accounts, was undeniable. According to the Caravaggio foundation's website, in 1584, he started as an apprentice to the Lombard painter Simone Peterzano, a pupil of Titian. By 1592, he had moved to Rome, where he began 'performing hack-work for the highly successful Giuseppe Cesari, Pope Clement VIII's favourite painter,' it states. Within two years, he quit Cesari and decided to make his own way in the world and, over time, became an established name in Italy. But his tempestuous nature meant that he was 'notorious for brawling, even in a time and place when such behaviour was commonplace, and the transcripts of his police records and trial proceedings fill several pages.' By 39, he was dead, passing away under mysterious circumstances in 1610; however, his legacy lives on, and how. 'There are a bunch of artists who are the most important for us (Italians),' says Consul General Tagliaferri, naming some of them. 'Leonardo (da Vinci), Michelangelo, Raphael…after this, I would say, is Caravaggio…very important for us and the history of the world.' Lost and found For centuries, Magdalene in Ecstasy was believed to have been lost to the world, even though 'we knew the painting existed because copies were made,' says Anastasio. Then, in 2014, it was discovered in a private collection of an aristocratic Italian family who had owned it for centuries. 'When the last owner of the painting died, she left nine important paintings from her collection to her nephew and niece. The one who got the painting sent it to be restored, and when it went to the restoration workshop, the restorer suspected it was important.' Further investigations by experts, including the art historian Guglielma Gregori, revealed that it was indeed the missing painting and 'after that the painting has been travelling and has been exhibited in several countries. The reason it is here is the joy of sharing a painting of such an exquisite nature,' he says. The painting, which was first unveiled in India at the Kiran Nadar Museum of Art, Delhi, is accompanied by a VR experience offering visitors a deeper engagement with the artist's work. 'The viewer comes most of the time, knowing very little about the artist or the historical context, so doing it in a way that they would engage is important,' says Anastasio. 'And VR does it in a beautiful way.' For Dr Sanjeev Kishor Goutam, Director General, NGMA, 'this exceptional exhibition of Magdalene in Ecstasy honouring Caravaggio's creative heritage will, in my opinion, have a lasting influence on world art history,' he says. 'For the first time in India, this one-of-a-kind show would draw a sizeable audience of art enthusiasts and spectators from all walks of life, especially academics and students studying the arts.' Magdalene in Ecstasy will be displayed at the National Gallery of Modern Art till July 6
Time of India
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- Time of India
From Rome with love: Caravaggio's $50-million painting debuts in Bengaluru
Bengaluru: For the first time ever, a painting attributed to the Italian Baroque master Caravaggio has arrived in Bengaluru, offering the city's art enthusiasts a rare chance to witness the dramatic intensity and emotional realism that reshaped Western art. The painting, which is 419 years old, is a $50 million masterpiece. The work — Maddalena in Estasi (Magdalene in Ecstasy) — is now on display at the National Gallery of Modern Art (NGMA) in Vasanth Nagar. The arrival of the painting, previously housed only in European collections, signals a growing effort to make globally significant art accessible across India, beyond the usual cultural hubs. Andrea Anastasio, director of the Italian Cultural Centre (Delhi), told TOI: "This painting captures a moment of rapture, Magdalene's emotional response after seeing the risen Christ. It reflects that intense emotional state when joy and pain blur because the feeling is too powerful to hold. Caravaggio's composition deepens this impact. Her body lies on a diagonal, three-quarters turned toward us. The lower half is detailed, the upper half dark and empty, drawing us into her experience. It shows how art can merge beauty with emotional truth." As to why the painting, created in 1606, is debuting in Bengaluru, Anastasio said: "The choice is personal, too. I lived in this city for 10 years. Bengaluru has a unique energy and an intellectual openness that's hard to miss. There's a growing appetite here for meaningful, global cultural experiences, and this city deserves to be part of that conversation." Alfonso Tagliaferri, consul general of Italy in Bengaluru, said, "One might wonder why it took so long for us to bring this masterpiece to India. It's extremely rare for Caravaggio's works to leave the museums they're housed in; many are simply too fragile or too important to be moved. This painting is one of the very few still in private hands, rediscovered only a decade ago. That's what made this moment possible. A year and a half ago, we opened the consulate general here. We're committed to building stronger ties with South India, and bringing a $50 million masterpiece here is a gesture of friendship, of cultural diplomacy." Sophisticated, but relatable "Caravaggio is one of the greatest names in Italian — and world — art history," Tagliaferri said. "He completely changed how we paint biblical scenes. Before him, the Renaissance tradition made people look idealised, clean, graceful, perfect. Caravaggio painted raw human emotion. His figures had dirt under their nails. Their pain was visible; their joy, too. The light in his work is dramatic, almost cinematic; it feels like theatre or film. In a way, it's very contemporary. You could even say it's Instagrammable." "That's what makes him so special, he speaks to everyone," he added. "It is complex, sophisticated, but instantly relatable. You don't need to know art history to feel something when you see his work. And that's why we're so thrilled people in Bengaluru now get to experience this up close." Alongside the painting, visitors can experience a specially designed virtual reality installation that brings Caravaggio's world to life. This immersive experience offers art enthusiasts a deeper, more personal engagement with the artist's work, techniques, and influence. Sanjeev Kishor Goutam, director general of NGMA, said, "Bringing this painting to Bengaluru is a cultural moment for the city. For the first time, Bengalureans can see a work attributed to Caravaggio. This showcase honours his creative legacy, which continues to shape global art history even centuries later. We believe this exhibition will have a lasting influence, not only on seasoned art lovers but also on young minds. We're expecting a strong turnout from students, scholars, and the wider public, people from all walks of life curious about how powerful art can transcend time, geography, and belief." The exhibition will be open to the public from Saturday (June 14) to July 6, between 10am and 6pm, at NGMA. Follow more information on Air India plane crash in Ahmedabad here . Get real-time live updates on rescue operations and check full list of passengers onboard AI 171 .
Time of India
21-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Time of India
Lithuanian Čiurlionis in conversation with Caravaggio in Delhi
Dr. Daniele Buccio's piano recital of M.K. Čiurlionis music compositions On April 15, the evening of exquisite art and music was a true gift to the culture connoisseurs of Delhi. The Lithuanian Embassy and the Italian Cultural Centre joined hands to celebrate the 150th birth anniversary of Lithuanian artistic icon Mikalojus Konstantinas Čiurlionis in India with a piano recital by Italian pianist Daniele Buccio , a passionate admirer and connoisseur of the music of Čiurlionis. To Lithuania, Čiurlionis (1875-1911) is what Tagore is to India: in the early 20th century Čiurlionis laid the foundations of modern Lithuanian classical music and painting. Being both a composer and painter, he offered a unique aesthetic vision for the modern nation of Lithuania, drawing from European classical tradition and ethnic Lithuanian traditions. One of the earliest symbolists in Europe, he was also strongly inspired by Indian, Japanese and ancient Egyptian philosophical visions. Daniele Buccio played the music of M.K. Čiurlionis and his Italian contemporary, Franco Alfano, along with some compositions of their teachers' generation. Symbolically, the concert took place back-to-back with the exhibition of the original work by Michelangelo Merisi da Caravaggio & Mary Magdalene in Ecstasy, a masterpiece from 1606, which was on display at the Italian Cultural Centre. As a homage to the famous painting, Daniele Buccio also played the Baroque musical piece by Giovanni Paolo Cima, written in 1606. Lithuanian Ambassador Diana Mickeviciene Present were Lithuanian Ambassador Diana Mickevičienė; Deputy Chief of Mission of the Embassy of Italy, Aurora Russi; Director of the Italian Embassy Cultural Centre, Dr. Andrea Anastasio, Ambassadors of Estonia, Ireland, Jamaica, Belgium, artists and art critics, many connoisseurs and fans of European classical music and friends of Lithuanian Embassy and Italian Cultural Centre. This event was organised in the framework of Europe Week 2025. L-R: Daniele Buccio and Director of the Italian Embassy Cultural Centre, Dr. Andrea Anastasio Across geographies and timelines - Lithuanian Čiurlionis spoke to Caravaggio in Delhi – a true Europe-India conversation!
