Naples in Paris

Naples in Paris showcases masterpieces from the Musée du Louvre and the Museo de Capodimonte in Naples, providing a unique insight into Italian painting from the 15th to the 17th century and offering a fresh perspective on the two collections.

The display features thirty-three paintings from the Museo di Capodimonte, considered some of the greatest Italian masterpieces. Some are by masters represented in the Louvre’s collection such as Titian, Caravaggio, Annibale Carracci and Guido Reni; others shed light on Italian schools that have little or no representation in the Louvre – particularly the remarkable Neapolitan school, characterised by the dramatic and expressive style of artists such as Jusepe de Ribera, Francesco Guarino and Mattia Preti.

Exhibition highlights include a poignant painting of the Crucifixion by Masaccio (a major artist of the Florentine Renaissance who is not represented in the Louvre’s collections), a large history painting called Transfiguration of Christ by Giovanni Bellini, without equivalent in the Louvre, and three of the finest paintings by Parmigianino, including his famously enigmatic Antea. The display of these works alongside the Louvre’s paintings by Correggio are one of the high points of the exhibition.