Information from the museum, 10 December 2013
Nationalmuseum in Sweden is showing a selection of works from their high-quality collection of Caravaggisti in the exhibition Masters of Darkness. A total of 30 oil paintings by 24 artists from six countries are exhibited. The artists include famous Dutch names such as Nicolas Régnier, Hendrick ter Brugghen, Jacob Jordaens, Mattthias Stom, Paulus Bor, Lambert Jacobsz and Jacob Adriaensz. Backer. The exhibition features works by artists active during the first half of the 17th century, who were influenced by Caravaggio’s pictorial innovations. The paintings are characterised by realism in the depiction of figures and objects, and by strong contrasts of light and shadow. The solid figures emerge from the surrounding darkness, modelled by a strong directed light. The dramatic light effects, the lively narratives, and the virtuoso rendering of different textures, create a visual tension in the paintings. The exhibition will be on show 5 December 2013 until 30 March 2014 in Nationalmuseum’s temporary venue at Konstakademien (The Royal Swedish Academy of Fine Arts) in Stockholm.