Engraved portrait of Caravaggio from 'Vite dei Pittori, Scultori ed Architetti Moderni. Descritte da Gio' by Pietro Bellori (1613-1696), 1728. Sir Denis Mahon Library and Archive, NGI
Researching Michelangelo Merisi da Caravaggio (1573-1610) at the National Gallery of Ireland
The Taking of Christ is heavily featured in monographs held in the National Gallery of Ireland’s art library, with seven books featuring the painting on their front covers, therefore showing the current popularity not only of the artist but the high level of esteem that this particular painting holds internationally. Indeed a novel was written on this one painting; ‘The lost painting; the quest for a Caravaggio masterpiece’ by Jonathan Harr (2005) which discusses the commission of the painting, its provenance and then discovery at the residence of the Society of Jesuits, Dublin in 1993.
The principle journal articles that discuss this painting are authored by Francesca Cappelletti (Burlington, 1993), and Sergio Benedetti (Burlington,1993, 1995). Caravaggio is frequently discussed in more general guides to Italian baroque painting, but the earliest books which discuss his achievements date from the late 17th century.
An early critical assessment of Caravaggio’s paintings, held in the National Gallery of Ireland, is ‘Le vite dei pittori’ written by Pietro Bellori (1613-1696) which includes an engraved plate of the artist accompanying the text (see above). This very rare book comes from the collection of the late Sir Denis Mahon and provides an important contextual account of the artist’s life (the original edition dating from 1672) and an indication of the contemporary appreciation of his work, being written relatively shortly after his death in 1610.
Suggested Bibliography
Apesos, Anthony. (2010). The painter as evangelist in Caravaggio's 'Taking of Christ' . Woodcliff Lake: Aurora: the journal of the history
of art
Fine Art Library 709.45CAR
Benedetti, Sergio. 'Caravaggio's Taking of Christ'. Addendum to his 1993 article. Burlington Magazine, Vol. 137, issue 1102 (Jan 1995), pp. 37-38.
Benedetti, Sergio. (1993). Caravaggio : the master revealed. Dublin: National Gallery of Ireland
Fine Art Library 708.15DUB/NGI
Benedetti,Sergio. 'Caravaggio's Taking of Christ: a masterpiece rediscovered'. Burlington Magazine, Vol. 135, issue 1088 (Nov 1993), pp. 731-746
Benedetti, Sergio. (1992). Caravaggio and his followers in the National Gallery of Ireland. Dublin: National Gallery of Ireland
Fine Art Library 708.15DUB/NGI
Cappelletti, Francesca. 'The documentary evidence of the early history of Caravaggio’s Taking of Christ'. Burlington Magazine, Vol. 135, issue 1088 (Nov 1993), pp. 742-746.
Cassani, Silvia. (2005). Caravaggio : the final years. Naples: Electa
Fine Art Library 709.45CAR
Clark, Edward. (2010). Caravaggio's friends and foes. London: Whitfield Fine Art
Fine Art Library 709.45CAR
Franklin, David. (2011). Caravaggio and his followers in Rome. New Haven and London: Yale University Press
Fine Art Library 709.45CAR
Fried, Michael. (2010). The moment of Caravaggio. Princeton, N.J.: Princeton University Press
Fine Art Library 709.45CAR
Graham-Dixon, Andrew. (2010). Caravaggio : a life sacred and profane. London: Penguin Books Ltd
Fine Art Library 709.45CAR
Harr, Jonathan. (2005). The lost painting : the quest for a Caravaggio masterpiece. New York: Random House
Fine Art Library 709.45CAR
Langdon, Helen. (1999). Caravaggio : a life. London: Pimlico
Fine Art Library 709.45CAR
Moir, Alfred. (1982). Caravaggio. New York: Harry N. Abrams
Fine Art Library 709.45CAR
Montebello , Philippe de. (1985). The age of Caravaggio. New York: Metropolitan Museum of Art
Fine Art Library 709.45CAR
Strinati, Claudio M. (2010). Caravaggio. Milano: Skira
Note: Text in Italian.
Fine Art Library 709.45CAR
Vodret, Rosella. (2010). Caravaggio : the complete works. Milan: Silvana Editoriale
Fine Art Library 709.45CAR
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