A rarely seen collection of Baroque masterpieces, including a pivotal work by Michelangelo Merisi da Caravaggio, is currently on display at the Museum of Fine Arts in St. Petersburg, Florida. The exhibition, titled “In Caravaggio’s Light: Baroque Masterpieces from the Fondazione Roberto Longhi,” features nearly 40 paintings from the prestigious Florentine collection, many of which have never before been exhibited in the United States.
The centerpiece of the exhibition is Caravaggio’s “Boy Bitten by a Lizard” (c. 1597), a painting celebrated for its dramatic depiction of pain and surprise, and for its innovative leverage of light and shadow. Dr. Stanton Thomas, Hazel and William Hough Chief Curator at the Museum of Fine Arts, St. Petersburg, described the opportunity to exhibit the work as “an unbelievably rare opportunity.”
The exhibition isn’t solely focused on Caravaggio’s work, but similarly highlights the artists he influenced. Paintings by Jusepe de Ribera, Valentin de Boulogne, and Matthias Stom are also featured, demonstrating the widespread impact of Caravaggio’s style. De Ribera’s portraits of Saints Paul, Phillip, Thomas, and Judas Thaddeus, and Boulogne’s “The Denial of St. Peter,” are among the notable works on display. Thomas noted that Boulogne’s painting is a highlight for its portrayal of “a profound crisis of faith.”
Caravaggio’s revolutionary approach to painting, characterized by intense naturalism, raw energy, and the use of chiaroscuro – the dramatic contrast between light and dark – profoundly impacted the Baroque movement. His choice to depict everyday people, even those from the lowest social classes, in religious scenes was also considered groundbreaking. As Thomas explained, Caravaggio’s work suggested that even “a street beggar in rags could be there with Jesus, so can you.”
The collection was assembled by Roberto Longhi, an Italian art historian whose research revived interest in many Baroque artists. The exhibition aims to capture the essence of Caravaggio’s legacy and the artistic revolution he ignited. “In Caravaggio’s Light” is on view through March 22, 2026.
