Book&Art: The lost painting. The quest for a Caravaggio masterpiece
If you are passionate about art history and mystery, this book is made for you.
Based on real events, Jonathan Harr’s The Lost Painting tells the story of the discovery of one of Michelangelo Merisi’s paintings, also known as Caravaggio, within a Jesuit residence in Ireland in 1990.
The Capture of Christ, as the painting was titled, had long thought to be lost, but art historian Sir Danis Mahon, young researcher Francesca Cappelletti and restorer Sergio Benedettì all made the “discovery of the century” possible. It wasn’t easy for the protagonists of the tale to piece together the story of the mysterious painting. It seems absurd that such an immense canvas could disappear for centuries, without anyone attempting to prove its existence or to search for it; some might have even thought it was pure legend. Nevertheless, in a time of dynasties and households, of villas and palaces overflowing with artworks, it wasn’t unusual to lose track of possessions following an inheritance or a transfer of dowry from one family to the other.
Harr narrates these events, including some snippets of Caravaggio’s life and the restoration of the painting, along with some diagnostic analysis (for those of you who are passionate about the subject). Anyway, a gripping book that will arise your curiosity.
A little advice: if you ever find yourself in Dublin with time on your hands, visit the National Gallery of Ireland (the entrance to the permanent exhibition is free) and take a look at the Capture of Christ, conserved there since its discovery. This is what I did after having read the book, and trust me, it has to be done!
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