Spring in the name of Caravaggio: it had probably never happened that four masterpieces by the Lombard painter were gathered within walking distance, in the historic center of Naples.
The great return, however, is that of the 'Flagellation', already the star of the Capodimonte exhibition at the Louvre, which concluded in January, and which on the occasion of Easter (and until 31 May) will be at the Diocesan museum of Donnaregina, or in "a sacred place ", as the director of the Museum and Real Bosco and president of the Cult Buildings Fund Eike Schmidt recalls, for a double suggestion, artistic and religious, not far from San Domenico, his home for 350 years.
To welcome him back, the Minister of Culture Gennaro Sangiuliano also brought further good news, namely the arrival of new funds for the Church of Donnaregina Vecchia, a Gothic jewel (which joins the 'new' seventeenth-century one) for interventions on the roof.
"Caravaggio's Flagellation is an immense, extraordinary work, today exhibited in a context of equal value - said Sangiuliano, admiring a perfectly lit installation which brings the visitor face to face with Christ more than ever -. Culture and tourism are an inseparable combination and the demand for culture among those who travel and want to know the identity of places increases. Initiatives like these offer tourists the value of our history".
With just one ticket you can also see "Sette Opere di Misericordia", another masterpiece by Caravaggio at the very nearby Pio Monte della Misericordia.
The other two paintings by Merisi that are worth the trip are the one from the permanent collection of Gallerie d'Italia, the famous 'Martyrdom of Saint Ursula' and 'The Taking of Christ', from 1 March to 16 June at the Banco Napoli Foundation.
Returning to the Flagellation, an icon of Capodimonte but owned by the Cult Buildings Fund, a celebrity often traveling (in the summer it will be at the Venaria Reale before returning to the Neapolitan hill), "it was painted by Caravaggio in 1607 for the de Franchis family, it is one of the strongest, best known and most appealing paintings of the Neapolitan and European seventeenth century", explains the curator Pierluigi Leone de Castris.
Meanwhile Schmidt, after this signal of 'restitution', announces the first initiatives: soon an annual ticket with unlimited access, with an even more discounted version for families.
"It is important that citizens feel Capodimonte is part of the city, it is not on another planet nor on a mountain that is difficult to reach - he observes -. Despite the works, we have over one hundred rooms open and many masterpieces.
Many people walk and play sports in the woods but combining a visit to the museum is also important, this ticket will serve to strengthen the bond with the citizens but it is not aimed only at them". Then, on the hypothesis of running for mayor of Florence, he said: "I have been dedicating myself to Capodimonte full time since January". The former director of the Uffizi underlines the excellent relationship with the Municipality of Naples: "We are working on accessibility starting from the simplest and most immediate measures to be implemented".
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