The "Caravaggio's World of Art" exhibition opened at the National Museum of China in Beijing on Friday, showcasing the renown Italian painter's masterpiece Mary Magdalene in Ecstasy and offering visitors an immersive exploration of his captivating artistic world.
The exhibition features Michelangelo Merisi da Caravaggio (1571-1610), one of the most revolutionary figures of European art, and centers on Mary Magdalene in Ecstasy, which was created during the later years of Caravaggio's life.
The painting holds an air of mystery in Western art history, with nearly 20 known copies existing, but the original had been lost for centuries. It wasn't until 2014, after more than 400 years, that the painting was rediscovered. Experts and renowned restoration teams spent six months authenticating and restoring the legendary work.
The exhibition presents the artwork through the perspective of restorers, and offers visitors a journey through art restoration, revealing the captivating stories behind this painting.
"The exhibition mainly centers on this masterpiece. As we can see, the layout of the exhibition allows visitors to view the painting from different angles, and guides them back to the original work. We've used restoration techniques, art historical interpretation and even some technological approaches to help the audience better understand the painting's past and present," said Zhuge Yingliang, associate researcher at the National Museum of China.
The exhibition also applies virtual reality (VR) technology, allowing visitors to virtually experience other works by Caravaggio, including Boy with a Basket of Fruit and Young Sick Bacchus, bringing them even closer to the artist's era and artistic vision.
Meanwhile, the exhibition showcases the restoration techniques used in Chinese painting and offers an interactive experience of painting restoration.
The exhibition will remain open till the end of March 2025.
Exhibition on Caravaggio works offers visitors journey through art restoration
