Caravaggio’s Magdalene in Ecstasy showcased in India for the first time

Experience Caravaggio's masterpiece, Mary Magdalene in Ecstasy, at KNMA Saket, a rare opportunity to witness art history.

Inside the dimly lit gallery at the Kiran Nadar Museum of Art (KNMA) in Saket, a painting stands illuminated, as if lit from within. Mary Magdalene in Ecstasy by Italian artist Caravaggio is a masterpiece long considered lost to history. It has finally arrived in Delhi and brought with it an extraordinary tale of art, life, and rediscovery.

Every brushstroke reveals the raw intensity of human emotion, every shadow deepens the mystery, and every gleam of light whispers of transcendence.

Michelangelo Merisi da Caravaggio’s name stirs images of drama, passion, and unparalleled artistry. Known for his raw realism and revolutionary use of light and shadow, Caravaggio painted life as it was, unfiltered and unidealised.

As Chief Curator, KNMA, Roobina Karode, describes, “Caravaggio’s work brought art closer to the ground and to people’s lived experiences. He was a master of light and shadow, demanding undivided attention. Every brushstroke reveals the raw intensity of human emotion, every shadow deepens the mystery, and every gleam of light whispers of transcendence.”

But Caravaggio’s own life mirrored the tumult of his works. In 1606, accused of murder and fleeing for his life, he painted Mary Magdalene in Ecstasy. It was created in exile, a poignant portrayal of spiritual transcendence born from personal chaos.

The painting, however, disappeared for centuries. Its rediscovery in 2014, authenticated by leading historians, was nothing short of a miracle. This work, once shrouded in mystery, is now here for the first time in India.

Italian Ambassador Antonio Bartoli says, the landmark exhibition offers a rare opportunity to experience the mastery of one of the Baroque era’s most influential artists. “Caravaggio upended the traditional canons of his time, introducing models from real life and cinematic lighting in his works.”