October 10, 2009 - January 31, 2010
Yesterday the Art Institute of Chicago opened an exhibit of Caravaggio's The Supper at Emmaus, a powerful example of Caravaggio's masterful use of light and dark. Michelangelo Merisi da Caravaggio's work is rare -- only a few dozen of his paintings exist. And most of them are in European collections. Indeed The Supper at Emmaus is on loan from the National Gallery of London.

Caravaggio (1571-1610), an Italian painter who worked largely in Rome, is often credited with beginning what we know as modern painting. He focused on the play of light and dark on scenes willed with drama and action producing paintings which were acclaimed in his own day and which are now revered. And yet, his own life was tempestuous as he had a proclivity for violence and brawling which lead to both legal and financial problems for the popular artist.

The Art Institute of Chicago is one of the world's finest art collections, and Caravaggio's The Supper at Emmaus is worthy of a special trip to see it.

Visit the museum's website to see a photo of the painting and for more information about visits:
The Art Institute of Chicago: Exhibitions: ( view on Google Sidewiki)