Among a few names associated with the chiaroscuro style of painting, an artistic technique that uses strong contrasts between light and dark areas to create a sense of depth and drama, Leonardo da Vinci was credited with using this technique to its full potential during the late 15th century. Vinci was not alone.
Italian artist Michelangelo Merisi da Caravaggio was also known for his revolutionary use of light and shadow, and transformed the visual language of Baroque art with his emotive realism and masterful technique.
Now for those looking for a slice of these masterstrokes, you needn’t travel to Italy to experience this legacy. Caravaggio’s ‘Mary Magdalene in Ecstasy’ (as seen above) is on display in India in New Delhi. A key painting depicting his technique, which was painted around 1606 while the artist was in exile after being charged with murder, is on display till May 18.
It is the first time that the artist’s painting is being displayed in India, brought by the Cultural Centre of the Italian Embassy, in partnership with The Kiran Nadar Museum of Art, Saket.
“It’s the first Caravaggio painting in India. This landmark exhibition offers a rare opportunity to experience the mastery of one of the Baroque era’s most influential artists. Caravaggio upended the traditional canons of his time, introducing in his works models from real life and a cinematic lighting”, says Italian Ambassador Antonio Bartoli.
What’s special about this painting is that the technique, which heightened the emotional and physical presence of the subjects, lends an unprecedented sensorial depth. The strong wrists and hands, in vivid colours and wonderful variations of nuances and light, with part of the fingers in shade, are the striking and intense elements of the painting. The execution of mixed colours are proof that they were really in front of the artist and inspired by real life and not painted by a copyist; they cannot be copied or reproduced.
This isn’t the first time when artists and their artworks have come alive in a travelling show. A typical trend, it allows connoisseurs in different locations to experience art firsthand as well as see how these artworks have left an impact in the artworld.
For instance, ‘Mary Magdalene in Ecstasy’ was believed to be lost for centuries, its whereabouts unknown following Caravaggio’s tumultuous years. In 2014, the painting resurfaced and was subsequently authenticated as an original masterpiece by a team of leading art historians, including renowned Italian scholar Mina Gregori. Its rediscovery was a groundbreaking moment in the art world, offering fresh insight into Caravaggio’s later works.
There are many other exciting art displays around the world currently. Those visiting the UK this summer for a vacation could head to artist Arpita Singh’s ‘Remembering’. The first solo show of the 87-year-old artist outside India is being held at the Serpentine Gallery until July.
The exhibition records the artist’s key works selected in close collaboration with the artist from her over six-decade-long career.
Singh’s paintings centre on her emotional and psychological state, drawing from Bengali folk art and Indian stories, interwoven with experiences of social upheaval and global conflict. The exhibition also traces Singh’s works from the 1960s to recent years, showcasing her large-scale oil paintings and her more intimate watercolours and ink drawings. American artist and professor Kerry James Marshall is expected to launch a full retrospective at the Royal Academy, London, from September 20-January 18.
Marshall is one of America’s most influential artists. A virtuoso of landscape, portraiture, still-life, the artist’s exhibition will travel to the Musée d’Art Moderne in Paris and Zurich’s Kunsthaus, featuring a retrospective of over 70 works, including a new series.
Back home, Mumbai this month saw the quirky sculptures of UK-based sculptor Jonathan Trayte’s first solo show ‘Acid Disco’ in India. The works feature a collection of painted bronze sculptures inspired by food, using castings and facsimiles to showcase how one sees and utilises natural resources and indulge in over-consumption.
Earlier this year, Spanish surrealist Salvador Dalí’s artworks were on display for the first time in the national capital.
An expansive collection of more than 200 of his original sketches, etchings and watercolour paintings were curated by Christine Argillet, daughter of Pierre Argillet, a French collector who was also Dalí’s friend and publisher. Presented by Bruno Art Group, it had some of the most memorable works Dalí produced, such as the etchings from Mythologie (1963-65) and Les Chants de Maldoror (1934). These works not only reflect Dalí’s impressive creative energy but also his deep relationship with art and literature.