Art in Frame: Caravaggio. On the trail of a masterpiece (version with a voiceover and with the possibility of AD)

Screening in the version with a tutor!

“Caravaggio: On the Trail of a Masterpiece” is a suspenseful documentary thriller about art, obsession and the pursuit of a masterpiece. In the center of its action is the story of the wonderfully found work of Caravaggio “Ecce Homo”.

In April 2021, the Ansorena auction house in Madrid exhibited a painting entitled “Ecce Homo” with a starting price of 1,500 euros. The author of the work remained unknown — until the time. Within a dozen hours, experts from Spain and Italy recognized in it the lost work of Caravaggio, master of the Baroque. The painting was immediately withdrawn from the auction, and experts, marchers and collectors went to the game, offering dizzying sums. However, voices questioning the authenticity of the image and the honesty of the appraisers soon emerged as well. How do you know the truth when big money is involved?

Produced with suspense worthy of sensational cinema, the documentary by Álvaro Longoria (producer of “Everybody Knows”) reveals the backstage of the art market, the power of chance and the fascinating fate of masterpieces that disappear and return like ghosts of the past. At the same time, he introduces the viewer to the extraordinary workshop and work of Caravaggio. Michelangelo Merisi da Caravaggio (1571-1610), the great reformer of European painting, is one of the most mysterious and fascinating figures in the history of art. He was uncompromising in both his approach to art and life. The break with the idealization of form in favor of naturalism and drama, the use of strong light, color contrasts or close-ups outraged the followers of the classical style, while inspiring young artists from all over Europe. The enormous interest he enjoys to this day is due not only to his groundbreaking technique, but also to his turbulent and scandal-ridden life. He was sentenced to death for murder, arrested and imprisoned for his part in the beating, and he himself survived an assassination attempt at the hands of an unidentified perpetrator.

“Caravaggio: On the Trail of a Masterpiece” is a treat not only for fans of Baroque painting, people interested in the behind-the-scenes activities of the art market, but also for those who like juicy detective stories about paintings or their fakes, like “Plan Almost Perfect”, “Connoisseur”, or “Vinci”. This documentary looks like a good thriller!

Video available with audio description or voiceover using the free Cinema Available 2.0 app on your phone.