Caravaggio and the Masters of Light in Rome 2026
From March 7 to June 7, 2026, Rome's Museo Storico della Fanteria hosts Caravaggio and the Masters of Light. The exhibition focuses on Michelangelo Merisi and the artistic movement he set in motion across 17th-century Europe. Curated by Alberto Bertuzzi and Francesco Gallo Mazzeo, it brings together 23 oil paintings by 22 artists. All come from European private collections rarely accessible to the public.
The show unfolds across six thematic sections, with light as the constant thread. In Caravaggio's hands, light became a narrative instrument. He carved faces and hands out of darkness, turning ordinary scenes into charged encounters with the divine. The artists who followed him spread this visual language across Europe, each shaping it to the sensibilities of their own time and place.
A Journey Through Caravaggism
The exhibition maps how Caravaggio's influence traveled beyond Rome. The Italian core of the show features painters including Bartolomeo Manfredi, Antiveduto Gramatica, Orazio Gentileschi, Massimo Stanzione, Giuseppe Vermiglio, and Carlo Saraceni. Their works span the full range of Caravaggesque painting in Italy, from Manfredi's raw genre scenes to Gentileschi's lyrical intimacy.
International artists occupy a significant portion of the exhibition too. Simon Vouet brought Caravaggism back to France after years spent in Rome. Matthias Stomer and Jusepe de Ribera developed darker, more austere interpretations in the Spanish territories. Simone Cantarini and the Bolognese school, meanwhile, filtered the same dramatic light through a more balanced and harmonious ideal. Placing these works side by side reveals how widely, and how differently, one painter's vision traveled through European art.
The Incredulity of Saint Thomas
The exhibition closes with Caravaggio's The Incredulity of Saint Thomas, its most powerful work. The apostle Thomas reaches out to touch the wound in Christ's side. Caravaggio renders the moment with unflinching directness, and light falls on hands, faces, and fabric with complete precision. The painting unites Caravaggio's defining qualities: psychological intensity, tactile realism, and spiritual depth, all compressed into a single human gesture.
Tickets and Opening Hours
Opening Hours
- Monday to Friday: 9:30 AM to 7:30 PM
- Saturday, Sunday, and public holidays: 9:30 AM to 8:30 PM
- Last entry: 30 minutes before closing
Ticket Prices
- Full price: €15 (€13 on weekdays)
- Reduced: €10
- Open ticket: €17
- School groups: €5
- Children aged 0 to 5: free admission
Book tickets in advance through TicketOne, the official ticketing partner for the exhibition. Booking online avoids the queues at the door, which can be long on weekends and public holidays.
Getting to the Museum
The Museo Storico della Fanteria stands at Piazza di Santa Croce in Gerusalemme 9, in Rome's San Giovanni neighborhood. From the city center, take Metro line A to San Giovanni, then walk roughly 10 minutes toward the piazza. Bus lines 3, 16, and 81 stop directly at Santa Croce in Gerusalemme. A taxi from central Rome takes around 10 to 15 minutes.
Around the Museum
The neighborhood around the museum rewards a slower visit. The Basilica di Santa Croce in Gerusalemme stands just steps from the museum entrance, counting among Rome's seven ancient pilgrimage churches. The Porta Maggiore, an imposing Roman gate at a busy crossroads, is a short walk away. Plan extra time to explore the area before or after the exhibition.
Buy tickets and find full details on TicketOne
***Photo Credit: https://www.turismoroma.it/it/eventi/caravaggio-e-i-maestri-della-luce
