A one-off
Undoubtedly the jewel in the crown of this month's Heritage Malta events is the stunning exhibition of original paintings by or attributed to Caravaggio. On show at the Salon of the National Museum of Archaeology, this showing is being mounted in...
Undoubtedly the jewel in the crown of this month's Heritage Malta events is the stunning exhibition of original paintings by or attributed to Caravaggio. On show at the Salon of the National Museum of Archaeology, this showing is being mounted in conjunction with the celebration of the time spent in Malta by the great Renaissance artist Michelangelo Merisi da Caravaggio (Caravaggio 400). The exhibition is entitled: A Unique Experience and it surely is just that. Incidentally the experience continues at the National Museum of Fine Arts with an exhibition of Caravaggisti paintings.
The exhibition has been set up to commemorate the 400th anniversary of the brief but eventful stay of Caravaggio in Malta. Among the works on show will be eight masterpieces loaned by major European and American collectors.
An adjacent hall to the main exhibition area will exhibit documents and artefacts related to the magistracy of Alof de Wignacourt (1601-1622), Grandmaster of the Order of the Knights of St John during Caravaggio's time in Malta. The exhibition will also include items pertinent to Caravaggio's time in Malta.
Among the works on show is the extremely gory depiction of The Decapitation Of Saint Genaro. This painting has been attributed by scholars to Caravaggio and was possibly painted towards the end of the artist's life. There are four paintings featuring St Francis of Assisi: Saint Francis In Ecstasy, Saint Francis In Meditation, Ecstasy Of Saint Francis and Saint Francis. This last mentioned is signed by the artist and many scholars claim that it is also a self-portrait of Caravaggio. There are also two canvasses entitled The Sacrifice Of Isaac. One is thought to have been completed around 1598, while the other similar work has been dated later. Caravaggio's depiction of Mary Magdalane In Ecstasy has been identified with a painting of the same subject that Caravaggio is known to have painted shortly after committing murder and escaping in haste from Rome.
The exhibition is open until the end of November and has been organised by Heritage Malta and Romartificio Eventi d'Arte, with the collaboration of the Government of Malta, Renaissance Productions Ltd and Soprintendenza Speciale per il Polo Museale Romano, with the active sponsorship of the National Lotteries Good Causes Fund, Malta Tourism Authority, HSBC (Malta) plc and Air Malta, with the support of the Malta Financial Services Authority, GO, Borza ta' Malta and Alarm Tech.
And to continue the Caravaggio 400 theme, also at The National Museum of Archeology, on October 14, there will be the first in a series of educational workshops called The Caravaggio Educational Workshop. In this event an acknowledged Caravaggio expert will interact with a young audience through storytelling, while discussing the particular painting of the day. The workshop starts at 2 p.m and runs until 4 p.m.
On October 28, there will be the second in the series of educational workshops, again at The National Museum of Archeology. On this occasion the guest speaker will introduce children to the techniques used by Caravaggio. A practical workshop will follow in which children are invited to draw pictures based on the techniques taught. This time the workshop will begin at 10.30 a.m and end at 12.30 p.m.
The exhibition has been set up to commemorate the 400th anniversary of the brief but eventful stay of Caravaggio in Malta. Among the works on show will be eight masterpieces loaned by major European and American collectors.
An adjacent hall to the main exhibition area will exhibit documents and artefacts related to the magistracy of Alof de Wignacourt (1601-1622), Grandmaster of the Order of the Knights of St John during Caravaggio's time in Malta. The exhibition will also include items pertinent to Caravaggio's time in Malta.
Among the works on show is the extremely gory depiction of The Decapitation Of Saint Genaro. This painting has been attributed by scholars to Caravaggio and was possibly painted towards the end of the artist's life. There are four paintings featuring St Francis of Assisi: Saint Francis In Ecstasy, Saint Francis In Meditation, Ecstasy Of Saint Francis and Saint Francis. This last mentioned is signed by the artist and many scholars claim that it is also a self-portrait of Caravaggio. There are also two canvasses entitled The Sacrifice Of Isaac. One is thought to have been completed around 1598, while the other similar work has been dated later. Caravaggio's depiction of Mary Magdalane In Ecstasy has been identified with a painting of the same subject that Caravaggio is known to have painted shortly after committing murder and escaping in haste from Rome.
The exhibition is open until the end of November and has been organised by Heritage Malta and Romartificio Eventi d'Arte, with the collaboration of the Government of Malta, Renaissance Productions Ltd and Soprintendenza Speciale per il Polo Museale Romano, with the active sponsorship of the National Lotteries Good Causes Fund, Malta Tourism Authority, HSBC (Malta) plc and Air Malta, with the support of the Malta Financial Services Authority, GO, Borza ta' Malta and Alarm Tech.
And to continue the Caravaggio 400 theme, also at The National Museum of Archeology, on October 14, there will be the first in a series of educational workshops called The Caravaggio Educational Workshop. In this event an acknowledged Caravaggio expert will interact with a young audience through storytelling, while discussing the particular painting of the day. The workshop starts at 2 p.m and runs until 4 p.m.
On October 28, there will be the second in the series of educational workshops, again at The National Museum of Archeology. On this occasion the guest speaker will introduce children to the techniques used by Caravaggio. A practical workshop will follow in which children are invited to draw pictures based on the techniques taught. This time the workshop will begin at 10.30 a.m and end at 12.30 p.m.