La Pinacoteca di Brera is one of the most important art venues in Milan and until 24 February it hosts a delicate encounter between two of the most beautiful works in the history of painting: Caravaggio's Supper at Emmaus and Rembrandt's Emmaus Pilgrims' Supper
For the first time the two masterpieces are juxtaposed in a new exciting dialogue between the two masters of light. Caravaggio's work is one of the most important pieces in the Pinacoteca's permanent collection, while the Dutchman's masterpiece Rembrant comes from the Musée Jacquemart-André in Paris.
Supper at Emmaus returns to Milan after being exhibited at the Caravage à Rome exhibition in Paris. Amis et ennemis, at the Musée Jacquemart-André from 21 September 2018 to 28 January 2019. The exchange between the two dinners, the result of an agreement between the two institutions, had seen Rembrandt's painting temporarily take the place of Caravaggio, while now it will be possible to admire them in the same place, after the complete renovation of the rooms of the Pinacoteca di Brera.
This encounter between the two works belongs to the "Dialoghi" cycle – now in its eighth episode – wanted by the director James Bradburne, British-born Canadian architect and museologist that he is director of the Pinacoteca di Brera since 2015 who explained : “This dialogue is a perfect example of why museums should lend their masterpieces in exceptional circumstances. For three weeks Milan will have the opportunity to see two masters side by side, interpreting the same theme in different ways”.
The exhibitions are also “an opportunity to study to increase our knowledge of the works – explained the restorer Andrea Carini -, so much so that in a recent infrared reflectographic investigation we discovered with great surprise that on the left side of the composition of the dinner in Emmaus there was a landscape, which Caravaggio then decided to cover".
The beauty of art lies in the surprise and emotions one receives every time one encounters a work, in the constant discovery and research.
