Caravaggio is widely acknowledged as bringing a revolution to painting during the Baroque period with his dramatic use of light and uncompromising realism. The National Gallery of Ireland is currently running an exhibition that is bringing together over 40 major works which will show the ways in which a large number of artists adopted Caravaggio’s ideas and developed them to become masters in their own right.

Four major works by Caravaggio will take centre stage in the exhibition: The Supper at Emmaus, 1601 (National Gallery, London); The Taking of Christ, 1602 (National Gallery of Ireland), as well as two works never exhibited before in Ireland: Boy Bitten by a Lizard, 1594-95 (National Gallery, London) and Boy Peeling Fruit, c.1592 (The Royal Collection).

The Taking of Christ has particular significance to Ireland as it was discovered here in the Jesuit house on Leeson Street, Dublin. Here Pat Coyle talks with Brendan Staunton SJ about the influence and innovation of Caravaggio, but first begins by explaining how the painting ended up in the Jesuit house and how it was discovered.