two caravaggio masterpieces reunited as ulster museum exhibition opens

An exhibition featuring two paintings by Michelangelo Merisi da Caravaggio (1571-1610) rarely seen together since the first quarter of the 17th century has opened at Ulster Museum. Not only does the exhibition represent a unique moment in Northern Ireland’s cultural history, but it also represents successful collaboration and partnership between museums in Belfast, Dublin and London. 

Attending the exhibition’s opening event on Thursday 9 May, highlighting its significance were political representatives from across the island including deputy First Minister Emma Little-Pengelly and Junior Minister Aisling Reilly and Ireland’s Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media, Catherine Martin TD. 

Caravaggio's ‘The Supper at Emmaus’ (1601) is on loan to Ulster Museum from the National Gallery, London as part of its ‘National Treasures’ project marking its bicentenary. Additionally, the Jesuit Community in Dublin, with the support of the National Gallery of Ireland, have generously facilitated the loan of Caravaggio's ‘The Taking of Christ’ (1602). The exhibition is sponsored by EY. 

Kathryn Thomson, Chief Executive of National Museums NI, said:

“This successful collaboration demonstrates how the arts can help celebrate our shared history and cultural diversity in a way that is inclusive and accessible to all. It is a wonderful bringing together of east-west and north-south partnership, and we are extremely grateful to our industry colleagues in both London and Dublin, and exhibition sponsor EY, who have helped make this happen for people here in Northern Ireland to be able to experience. To see both paintings together in the one location is almost unprecedented, and as such creates a genuine ‘once in a lifetime’ opportunity for local audiences, as well as an undoubted draw for visitors from further afield.”

The National Gallery developed the National Treasures programme as part of a series of events to mark its bicentenary. Ulster Museum is one of 12 museums and galleries across the four UK nations to host a masterpiece from the gallery’s renowned collection, with the aim of bringing more than half of the UK’s population within an hour’s journey of a beloved National Gallery painting. 

Alexandra Kavanagh, Head of National Touring at the National Gallery, London said:

“We are delighted to be partnering with Ulster Museum on National Treasures – it’s wonderful see this display alongside the National Gallery of Ireland’s equally excellent Caravaggio sums up exactly the sort of dialogues we hoped to spark through this bicentenary project.

The exhibition, which will run until September 1 is expected to draw people from across the entire island of Ireland. 

Dr Caroline Campbell, Director of the National Gallery of Ireland said:

“We are leaders in sharing our collection with audiences on site, online, across the island of Ireland, and internationally. Caravaggio’s ‘The Taking of Christ’ is one of the most popular works on show at the National Gallery of Ireland. While we’ll miss it when it’s in Belfast, we are delighted to support its display at the Ulster Museum. As I was born and raised in Belfast, I’m very proud to see this next phase of collaboration with our colleagues in National Museums NI take place.”

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Anne Stewart, Senior Curator of Art at National Museums NI, encouraged people to visit whilst they have the chance. She said:

“The connection between these two Caravaggio paintings is remarkable. Both were painted for the same patron, Ciriaco Mattei, and originally displayed in the same family palace in Rome. Reuniting Caravaggio’s The Supper at Emmaus and The Taking of Christ is a highly ambitious and an unusual event as they hardly ever travel and have rarely been seen together since the first quarter of the 17th century. This exhibition provides our audiences with an important chance to access these masterpieces in one place.”

The Supper at Emmaus and Taking of Christ are on display at Ulster Museum from Friday May 10 until Sunday September 1. For more information, click here.