The Dr. Bhau Daji Lad Museum, Consulate General of Italy in Mumbai and Istituto Italiano di Cultura di Mumbai are pleased to present L’invenzione della luce (the invention of light), Caravaggio’s ‘Magdalene in Ecstasy’.

Michelangelo Merisi da Caravaggio (1571–1610) is one of the most influential artists in European art. He rejected the idealised forms of Renaissance painting and depicted his subjects with unflinching realism and heightened emotional intensity. Renowned for his dramatic use of chiaroscuro, he transformed the visual language of Baroque art through his emotive realism. The artwork ‘Magdalene in Ecstasy’, painted around 1606, depicts Mary Magdalene in spiritual transcendence, in a moment of divine rapture.

Caravaggio’s influence on his contemporaries, both in Italy and across Europe, was immediate and transformative. Though often described as a realist, ‘theatrical’ may better capture the essence of his art. His realism lay not in faithful representation, but in the ability to distill a pivotal moment into a single, electrifying image. His scenes possess a vivid immediacy - an anticipation of the cinematic or photographic.

Caravaggio’s painting is presented in conjunction with early twentieth century artworks by renowned Indian artist Rao Bahadur Mahadev Vishwanath Dhurandhar, depicting a story from Hindu mythology. It expresses emotional love as a metaphor for spiritual love, similar to the theme of the Caravaggio painting. Though separated by centuries and geography, both artists explore themes of devotion and transcendence.

We would like to acknowledge the support of the following for the exhibition:
Supporting Partner: MetaMorfosi Associazione Culturale
Principal Donor: Bajaj Foundation, Jamshyd and Pheroza Godrej
Additional Support: DAG