Caravaggio's 'Maddalena in estasi' makes historic debut in India

A Caravaggio painting, 'Maddalena in estasi' (Mary Magdalene in Ecstasy), is on view in India for the first time. The work is currently exhibited at the Kiran Nadar Museum of Art (KNMA) in New Delhi until May 18, 2025, after a brief showing at the Italian Cultural Institute from April 12 to 15. The exhibition is part of a soft power initiative by Italy to strengthen international cultural relations, and was visited by Italian Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani. The painting, attributed to Caravaggio by scholar Mina Gregori in 2014 after its discovery in a private Dutch collection, has a contested authorship; other versions exist, including the 'Maddalena Klain' in a private Roman collection. The attribution was bolstered by the discovery of a 17th-century note referencing Cardinal Borghese. The exhibition includes documentaries and a virtual reality experience, alongside a series of talks in collaboration with the Italian Cultural Institute. The museum's director, Kiran Nadar, noted the significance for Indian audiences to engage with European classical art. The painting was previously shown in Mongolia and China in 2024.