The lecture Caravaggio e la Scultura Barocca is being held this evening at St John’s Co-Cathedral in Valletta.

Tomaso Montanari, professor of history of modern art from the University of Naples Federico II, will look into the two main aspects of the 17th century: looking at the future and focusing on the present, one revolutionary and the other conservative.

On the one hand, one finds Caravaggio and, on the other, there are Gian Lorenzo Bernini and Pietro da Cortona. In the book Pietro da Cortona, o della pittura barocca, published by Giuliano Briganti, Caravaggio is in fact considered to be the father of modern art, who caused a revolution that influenced Manet through Velásquez. The lecture will deal with the importance of Caravaggio’s art during the baroque period and highlight the sculpture of Bernini and that of Melchiorre Cafà.

■ Organised by the St John’s Co-Cathedral Foundation, the lecture starts at 6.30pm and will be delivered in Italian in the Oratory of the Co-Cathedral. Since space is very limited, reservations are essential and can be made by emailing info@stjohnscocathedral.com or calling 2248 0400. Guests are kindly requested to be seated by 6.15pm and should refrain from wearing stiletto/narrow heels. Entrance is through the main door of St John’s Co-Cathedral in Valletta.