ARTFEED — Contemporary Art Intelligence

Caravaggio's 'The Musicians' on loan from Met to Naples for Sky Arte Festival

festival-fair · 2026-05-05

Caravaggio's 'The Musicians' (1595) is on view at Gallerie d'Italia – Palazzo Zevallos Stigliano in Naples from May 6 to July 16, 2017, as part of the first Sky Arte Festival. The painting, normally at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York, was lent through the 'L'Ospite illustre' exchange program. In return, Caravaggio's 'The Martyrdom of Saint Ursula' traveled to New York for the exhibition 'Caravaggio's Last Two Paintings'. The festival also includes 'Master of Photography' at Villa Pignatelli, curated by Filippo Maggia, featuring works by 12 contestants from the Sky Arts Production Hub series. Additionally, JR's Inside Out Project installed large-format black-and-white portraits of thousands of Neapolitans along the Lungomare Caracciolo, with images adhered to the pavement in two parallel rows. The festival's theme is regeneration.

Key facts

  • Caravaggio's 'The Musicians' is on loan from the Metropolitan Museum of Art to Gallerie d'Italia – Palazzo Zevallos Stigliano in Naples.
  • The painting was executed in 1595 and is normally housed at the Met in New York.
  • The loan coincides with the first edition of Sky Arte Festival, starting May 6, 2017.
  • The exhibition runs until July 16, 2017.
  • In exchange, Caravaggio's 'The Martyrdom of Saint Ursula' is on view in New York as part of 'Caravaggio's Last Two Paintings'.
  • The display at Palazzo Zevallos Stigliano was designed by architect Lucia Anna Iovieno.
  • The festival also includes 'Master of Photography' at Villa Pignatelli, curated by Filippo Maggia, featuring 12 contestants from Sky Arts Production Hub.
  • JR's Inside Out Project installed portraits of thousands of Neapolitans along the Lungomare Caracciolo.
  • The festival theme is regeneration.
  • The Inside Out Project has involved over 130,000 people from 100 countries.

Entities

Artists

  • Caravaggio (Michelangelo Merisi)
  • JR
  • Filippo Maggia
  • Lucia Anna Iovieno
  • Caravaggio
  • Andy Warhol
  • Antonello da Messina
  • Pablo Picasso

Institutions

  • Gallerie d'Italia – Palazzo Zevallos Stigliano
  • Intesa Sanpaolo
  • Metropolitan Museum of Art
  • Sky Arte Festival
  • Sky Arts Production Hub
  • Villa Pignatelli
  • Inside Out Project
  • Palazzo Zevallos
  • Palazzo Madama
  • Museo Thyssen-Bornemisza

Locations

  • Naples
  • Italy
  • New York
  • United States
  • via Toledo
  • Riviera di Chiaia
  • Lungomare Caracciolo
  • Rome
  • Turin
  • Madrid
  • Spain

Sources