When listing the names of some of the biggest masters of the 16th century, the name Caravaggio certainly comes to mind. This artist may not have had a long life, but it was certainly an eventful one in terms of this travels, rivalries and his impression on the art world. Many peers of his era – and many modern-day critics – revered him for his realism and subject matter. Now, the Musée Jacquemart-André is letting us see this up-close like never before.
It may not be that rare to find a major Parisian gallery celebrating the life and work of Caravaggio. However, this new exhibition at the Musée Jacquemart André does offer something new to those that are admirers of the man’s work. There are 10 pieces of work in this new show and 7 of those have not been seen in France until now. This means a grand collection of paintings that are either completely new to this Parisian audience, or ones we have only seen before in textbooks. The show is, therefore, a great chance to view the man’s work side by side and get a better sense of his approaches.
There is also a theme to this Caravaggio’s Roman Period exhibition – the friends and enemies of Caravaggio. It is common to put artists with their mentors and peers, but it is quite interesting to highlight a man’s enemies. We can’t forget, of course, that this artist once fled Rome following a murder. The idea here is that visitors will see Caravaggio and his work in a new light.
This long-running exhibition is well underway but continues until the 28th of January. Even if you have little prior knowledge of the man and his paintings, this is a must-see exhibition because of the status of the pieces on show. Don’t miss out!