National Treasures

The Supper at Emmaus was displayed in an intimate gallery space, using natural light to bring out the intensity of Caravaggio’s work. The daylight fell from high, north-facing windows reminiscent of an artist’s studio, to mirror Caravaggio’s use of light.

Caravaggio’s ‘The Taking of Christ’, was loaned from the Jesuit Community Dublin/The National Gallery of Ireland, and was displayed to the right of ’The Supper at Emmaus’. The presence of Christ is central to both paintings, and the prominence of the bread and wine at the ‘Supper at Emmaus’ creates a further symbolic link.

Both painted in subsequent years for the same patron, Ciriaco Mattei, and originally displayed in the same family palace in Rome, these paintings were reunited at the Ulster Museum. 

The Ulster Museum’s Discover Art space was transformed into Discover Caravaggio for the duration of the exhibition. Here, family visitors explored still-life drawing and gestural shadow drawings, and the youngest visitors engaged in sensory and imaginary play inspired by the painting. There was also an opportunity to see the work of prize winners in the ‘Creative Classroom Award’ – a brand-new art prize for primary schools, created to celebrate the arrival of Caravaggio in Belfast.