Caravaggio | Revolution: Baroque Masterpieces

Caravaggio’s masterful Boy Bitten by a Lizard stands at the heart of this exhibition—a rare treasure among the fewer than 50 works attributed to the artist, who died at age 38. Surrounding this centerpiece are more than 30 paintings by leading Baroque masters and Caravaggisti from across Europe, artists who absorbed and reinterpreted Caravaggio’s revolutionary style. Together, these works illuminate the extraordinary impact of his use of shadow and light, realism, and dramatic intensity on an entire generation of painters.

Caravaggio’s revolutionary use of shadow and light, known as “chiaroscuro,” and his unflinching depiction of the non-idealized masses shattered the polished conventions of 17th-century art. His emotionally charged realism shocked his contemporaries and ignited a movement that swept across Europe, influencing generations of artists.

This exhibition connects that 400-year-old creative spark to the imagery that defines our time. Through film clips, photographs, and commentary from modern masters including Martin Scorsese, Isaac Julien, David LaChapelle, and Tom Hunter as well as iconic music videos like R.E.M.’s “Losing My Religion” and Johnny Cash’s “Hurt,” the exhibition reveals how Caravaggio’s vision continues to shape the visual language of storytelling today.

Admission to this special exhibition is an additional $10 on top of museum admission.