A 'lost original' finds its way to Bengaluru

To sit in an empty room taking in an original Caravaggio in all its glory is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. 

‘Mary Magdalene in Ecstasy’ makes you feel vulnerable, but at the same time, you can’t help but gawk at how sublime it is. You’re left in awe of each stroke that has come together to show how light hits each element in the frame. Mary Magdalene, a female saint mentioned in the Bible, is depicted in a moment of ecstatic devotion, her head tilted back, eyes closed, and hands gently clasped. Her facial expression is a contrast of overwhelming emotions. 

Bathed in dramatic chiaroscuro light, her face radiates both inner torment and transcendent peace. In Italian, Chiaroscuro means “light-dark.” In art, it refers to the technique of using strong contrasts between light and shadow to create the illusion of depth and volume in a two-dimensional image.

It is predicted that Michelangelo Merisi da Caravaggio painted this piece of art in 1606, holed up in the Napolean estates of the Colona family, when he was on the run after having killed Ranuccio Tommasoni. 

The oil on canvas, 40.75 in×36 in, is a controversial one. The present picture is the best of 18 known versions but has only recently been claimed as the ‘lost original’. The painting, discovered in 2014 in a European private collection, is also popularly known as ‘Magdalene Gregori’, named after Mina Gregori, the foremost Caravaggio scholar, who identified the work. 

In 2018, this debate was reignited when a museum in Paris, the Musée Jacquemart-Andre, displayed two versions of the ‘Mary Magdalene in Ecstasy’ — the recently found painting credited to Caravaggio and the one by Klein Magdalena, which had also once been considered a Caravaggio. “But there are several differences between the paintings. During the restoration process, between the lining and the original canvas, the team found a piece of paper, called ‘Cartiglio’, that stated the name of the painting and the owner. The handwriting and the ink analysis confirm the dating and authenticity of the note,” said Andrea Anastasio, director of the Italian Cultural Centre in New Delhi. 

The painting brought Anastasio to tears when he got to see it up close. “When I opened the case and saw the painting, I can only describe the feeling I experienced as an intimate one. The painting carries a certain intensity. I’ve seen many Caravaggios in the past, but this one carries a contradiction. It is very simple but complex at the same time. Even if I’m exposed to thousands of paintings, this one will always last in my memory,” he told DHoS. 

After a month-long exhibition at the Kiran Nadar Museum in Delhi, the painting arrived at the National Gallery of Modern Art, Bengaluru, on June 13. Surrounded by grey walls, it is placed in the centre of an arch, in an attempt to recreate the baroque aesthetic. 

“The placement of the bench, on the left of the painting, is intentional. With the light coming in from the left, this makes sure the painting can be admired without any reflections,” said Alfonso Tagliaferri, Consul General of Italy, Bengaluru. The shade of the red cloak draped around Magdalene stands out in the dimly lit room. It’s a colour constantly used by Caravaggio. The typical nature of the hurried brush strokes that Caravaggio is known for can be seen in the folds of the cloak. The brushstrokes are vigorously executed, turning in at the end. 

While you’re enamoured by all of Magdalene’s soft features, in contrast to some of the more gory features like the darkening of her lips and fingertips, a lone tear barely stands out. The slanting eyelids, swollen and pink, make way for the tear drop. Blending in seamlessly, it adds to the realism of the painting. In his short life of 38 years, Caravaggio is said to have created around 100 paintings, of which about 60 have documents that confirm their authenticity. Every element in his paintings has a role to play — be it the muse’s scattered hair or a skull lurking in the corner.

The ‘Mary Magdalene in Ecstasy’ marks the first ever original Caravaggio to be displayed in India.

The painting is on display at the NGMA, Bengaluru, till July 6.