Michelangelo Merisi da Caravaggio was a renowned painter from Italy at the end of the 16th century to the beginning of the 17th century. His artistic career began after the deaths of several masters during the peak of the Italian Renaissance. He painted ordinary people and the poor, characterized by his use of light, realistic techniques, and dramatic effects.
"The Supper at Emmaus" is a masterpiece of the Baroque style, created between 1605 and 1606, during which Caravaggio was exiled for committing murder and was experiencing a dark period in his life. The painting depicts Jesus Christ revealing his identity to his disciples in a small town called Emmaus after his resurrection.
This exhibition follows the display of Botticelli's "Venus" in Hong Kong and Macau last year, bringing another national treasure of Italy "across the ocean" to China. The organizers pointed out that "The Supper at Emmaus" is one of the few authentic Caravaggio paintings that still exist in the world, with an insured value of 60 million euros. The exhibition will also showcase works by four contemporary Hong Kong artists: Chan Koon Chung, Chow Chun Fai, Wang Wuxie, and Su Qingqiang, reflecting how Caravaggio continues to influence artistic creation centuries later.
