Seeing Caravaggio in a new light

Anne Stewart, Curator of Art at Ulster Museum explores Caravaggio's use of light in his paintings.

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In a first for Belfast, Caravaggio's ‘The Supper at Emmaus’ (1601) has been reunited with ‘The Taking of Christ’ (1602) as part of the National Treasures programme. Both paintings were painted for the same patron, Ciriaco Mattei, and originally displayed in the same family palace in Rome.

Curator Anne Stewart explains how the exhibition at Ulster Museum uses natural light to bring out the intensity of Caravaggio's works. We also hear from visitors on the impact of seeing these two paintings reunited for one of the only times since the first quarter of the 17th century.

National Treasures

The Supper at Emmaus is currently on loan to Ulster Museum, Belfast

To celebrate our Bicentenary, 12 paintings from the collection are being lent to 12 venues across the UK in 2024.

See various locations and visit

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Seeing Caravaggio in a new light

[Video title]

Shedding light on reunited Caravaggio paintings in Belfast

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Sharon Walters on Francisco de Zurbarán's 'Saint Margaret of Antioch'

Andrew Grassie on Piero della Francesca's 'Baptism of Christ'

Jananne Al-Ani on Egbert van der Poel's 'A View of Delft after the Explosion of 1654'

Céline Condorelli on Pontormo's 'Joseph with Jacob in Egypt'

Amalia Pica on Panini's 'The Lottery in Piazza di Montecitorio'

Zadie Xa and Benito Mayor Vallejo on Poussin's 'Adoration of the Golden Calf'

Hanna Tuulikki on Piero del Pollaiuolo's 'Apollo and Daphne'

Harold Offeh on Botticelli's 'Venus and Mars'

Andy Holden on Murillo's 'Self Portrait'

Cécile B. Evans on Salvator Rosa's 'Witches at their Incantations'

Andrew Grassie on Piero della Francesca's  'Baptism of Christ'