Caravaggio exhibition attracts thousands in Rome

An unprecedented exhibition will open in Rome on Saturday, showing 24 major works by Caravaggio. The masterpieces come from museums all over the world, and will go on display to mark the 400th anniversary of the Baroque master's death.

An unprecedented exhibition will open in Rome on Saturday, showing 24 major  works by Caravaggio.

Michelangelo Merisi, known as Caravaggio, always drew a lot of attention... not only for his artwork, but also for his adventurous life.

Caravaggio pioneered the Baroque painting technique of contrasting light and dark, known as chiaroscuro. He became famed for his personal painting style.

Wolfgang Proaska, Austrian art critic, said, "Caravaggio's paintings touch you immediately, they assault you immediately. It is a very strong, aggressive painting. It is a painting that involves you intimately."

Other critics say they want the exhibition to refocus attention on Caravaggio's art, rather than his biography.

Guerrino Mattei, art historian, said, "Caravaggio was a great painter. He lived intensely and was a great innovator. But the fact that he was persecuted by time and by his enemies has contributed to create this image of a "damned artist" that we all associate with him."

Italian media is reporting, more than 50-thousand visitors have already booked tickets.

The exhibition will run until June 13th.