Caravaggio's John the Baptist on loan to Turin's Royal Museums in exchange with Rome

The Royal Museums of Turin have inaugurated an exhibition centered on Caravaggio's "Saint John the Baptist," on loan from the Galleria Corsini in Rome, as part of a swap with the National Galleries of Ancient Art. In exchange, the Galleria Sabauda's rare panel by Hans Memling, "The Passion of Christ," is displayed at Palazzo Barberini in Rome until April 5. The Caravaggio, painted between 1604 and 1606, is one of the few works by the master whose commission is unknown, first appearing in records in the late 18th century when it entered the Corsini collections. The painting exemplifies Caravaggio's innovations: profound realism in depicting the saint as a common youth, dramatic chiaroscuro, and intense sensuality. The exhibition runs until May 30. Enrica Pagella, Director of the Royal Museums, stated that despite lockdowns, the museum continued to develop new cultural proposals in collaboration with other national institutions.