Caravaggio and Bernini Face Off in Unprecedented Baroque Exhibition at Vienna's KHM

In Vienna, the Kunsthistorisches Museum has launched an innovative exhibition that for the first time unites the works of Caravaggio and Gian Lorenzo Bernini, delving into their collective impact on Baroque art. Curated by Gudrun Swoboda and Stefan Weppelmann, this display includes 67 masterpieces from various international museums and private collections, featuring artists such as Alessandro Algardi, Giambologna, and Artemisia Gentileschi. The exhibition is thematically organized around emotions like wonder and horror, showcasing notable pieces such as Caravaggio's Narcissus (c. 1600) and Bernini's Medusa (1638-40). Open until January 19, 2020, it will then move to the Rijksmuseum in Amsterdam on February 14, 2020. The opening was attended by Austrian President Alexander Van der Bellen and Italian Ambassador Sergio Barbanti, although no Italian government representative was present. Following a last-minute withdrawal of Eike Schmidt, KHM interim director Sabine Haag will continue her leadership, having managed the museum for over a decade.