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A masterpiece by Caravaggio stolen in Ukraine

The great he-goat

Caravaggio: “The taking of Christ”

A MASTERPIECE BY CARAVAGGIO STOLEN ]]>

August 1 2008 – “The Taking of Christ” (also known as “The Kiss of Judas”), a masterpiece by Caravaggio (1571-1610) was stolen from the Museum of Western and Eastern Art in Odessa, Ukraine. The canvas is one of the two versions of the same subject that the Italian artist painted, the other in the National Gallery of Ireland.

Widely considered as one of the best paintings by Caravaggio, the work shows a masterful use of the chiaroscuro in a vibrant and forceful composition. Some scholars believe that the man holding the lantern is a self-portrait of Caravaggio.

The museum’s director has declared that the lost of the painting is a “catastrophe”, and that the painting was invaluable

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A masterpiece by Caravaggio stolen in Ukraine