Caravaggio's secret techniques revealed in Milan exhibition

A groundbreaking exhibition at Palazzo Reale in Milan pairs 20 Caravaggio masterpieces with their X-rays, revealing the artist's hidden creative process. The show, which includes works from the Galleria Doria Pamphilj, the Uffizi, and other major collections, exposes pentimenti, cancellations, and recycled canvases—such as the Buona Ventura painted over an earlier Madonna. Caravaggio's use of chiaroscuro, his shift from light to dark preparations after fleeing Rome, and his rapid execution without preliminary drawings are documented. The exhibition also addresses the issue of 'doubles' and copies. A cinematic follow-up and an international research hub at the Galleria Borghese are planned. The show highlights Caravaggio's enduring popularity and his influence on Roman painting.