The "Caravaggio's World of Art" exhibition opened at the National Museum of China in Beijing on Friday, showcasing the renown Italian painter's masterpiece Mary Magdalene in Ecstasy and offering visitors an immersive exploration of his captivating artistic world.
The exhibition features Michelangelo Merisi da Caravaggio (1571-1610), one of the most revolutionary figures of European art, and centers on Mary Magdalene in Ecstasy, which was created during the later years of Caravaggio's life.
The painting holds an air of mystery in Western art history, with nearly 20 known copies existing, but the original had been lost for centuries. It wasn't until 2014, after more than 400 years, that the painting was rediscovered. Experts and renowned restoration teams spent six months authenticating and restoring the legendary work.
The exhibition presents the artwork through the perspective of restorers, and offers visitors a journey through art restoration, revealing the captivating stories behind this painting.
"The exhibition mainly centers on this masterpiece. As we can see, the layout of the exhibition allows visitors to view the painting from different angles, and guides them back to the original work. We've used restoration techniques, art historical interpretation and even some technological approaches to help the audience better understand the painting's past and present," said Zhuge Yingliang, associate researcher at the National Museum of China.
The exhibition also applies virtual reality (VR) technology, allowing visitors to virtually experience other works by Caravaggio, including Boy with a Basket of Fruit and Young Sick Bacchus, bringing them even closer to the artist's era and artistic vision.
Meanwhile, the exhibition showcases the restoration techniques used in Chinese painting and offers an interactive experience of painting restoration.
The exhibition will remain open till the end of March 2025.
Exhibition on Caravaggio works offers visitors journey through art restoration
The Iranian government is focusing on public concerns and maintaining stable supplies of essential goods amid recent protests, Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian said in a televised interview on Sunday.
In the city of Karaj, northwest of the capital Tehran, daily life has largely continued as normal. A video filmed by a local resident on Sunday shows food stores open and grocery shelves fully stocked.
"This is the block near my home, and there are some food stores here. Daily life continues here. Last night we did not see many protests in Karaj. Right now the city is very safe. This is a grocery store close to my home. All the food is available; nothing is in shortage. Here are noodles and different types of beans. Here are dairy products, cheese, and yogurt. I also checked other grocery stores and didn't see any shortages. Everything is available," said local resident Ali Reza.
Iranian officials have described recent disturbances as acts orchestrated by the "enemy," including some carried out by well-trained and armed "terrorists." The incidents have caused casualties among security personnel and civilians, as well as property damage.
The Secretary of Iran's Supreme National Security Council Ali Larijani has directed authorities to severely punish the "terrorists."
Meanwhile, Iran's police chief Ahmad-Reza Radan said on Sunday that the police had raised alert levels and arrested several leaders of the troublemakers during the operations on Saturday.
President Pezeshkian noted in the interview that the normal demands of the Iranian people are reasonable and justified, but they must realize that triggering riots and carrying out terrorist acts are the enemy's attempts to undermine the country. He urged the public to remain vigilant.
Also on Sunday, Iranian Parliament Speaker Mohammad Baqer Qalibaf warned that Tehran would regard U.S. and Israeli bases and facilities in the Middle East as "legitimate targets" if Washington takes military action against Iran. His remarks followed media reports saying U.S. President Donald Trump is "seriously considering authorizing a strike" against Iran.
Iranian state media reported that at least 109 members of Iran's security forces have been killed in clashes since the protests began 14 days ago. Meanwhile, human rights groups based outside the country said the number of protesters killed has exceeded 200, though the figure could not be independently verified.
The protests initially erupted over a sharp depreciation of the rial and sweeping subsidy reforms. Iranian authorities have blamed the unrest on foreign-linked agents and sanctions imposed by the United States.
Iranian president says government focusing on ensuring supplies amid protests
