National Treasures: Caravaggio in Belfast

Caravaggio's (1571-1610) 'The Supper at Emmaus' (1601) is coming to Ulster Museum as part of bicentenary celebrations for the National Gallery, London, and in a first for Belfast, will be reunited with his ‘The Taking of Christ’ (1602) painting, especially for our National Treasures exhibition.

The 10th May 2024 marks 200 years since the opening of the National Gallery in London. To mark the momentous occasion, the National Gallery is loaning 'national treasures' from its collection to 12 museums and galleries throughout the UK - and Ulster Museum is one of the venues.

'The Supper at Emmaus' (1601) from the National Gallery and now 'The Taking of Christ’ (1602) from The Jesuit Community in Dublin, with the support of the National Gallery of Ireland, both painted by Michelangelo Merisi da Caravaggio (1571–1610), will be displayed in our Spotlight Art gallery from 10th May until September 2024 in an exhibition spectacular.

The connection between the 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 unusual event. Both paintings very rarely travel and they have hardly ever been seen together since the first quarter of the 17th century.

The bringing together of these two rare artworks will provide the public with a rare chance to access these masterpieces.