June 2024 Newsletter

I can’t believe we’re halfway through the year already!  The first half has been packed with talks, more talks, gallery visits, and in-between all that, a fair bit of painting!

I’m very much looking forward to more exciting gallery visits, especially the next two. First up this month, is a visit to The National Gallery, London, to view The Martyrdom of Saint Ursula, believed to be Caravaggio’s final work, painted just before his death at the age of 36 in 1610. The painting depicts the moment an arrow penetrates Ursula’s breast – what I like to call ‘the lighting strike moment’ – which Caravaggio captures so cleverly in all his paintings. An utterly haunting depiction, the painting includes Caravaggio himself, peering over the saint’s shoulder in utter shock at what has just transpired. There is also so much light and shadow in the painting, a technique known as chiaroscuro, and which again, is typical of a Caravaggio. After studying this image in books, I can’t wait to see it in person.

The second exciting gallery visit we have booked this month is to the wonderful Prado in Madrid, Spain, for a viewing of the newly attributed Caravaggio Ecce Homo. This painting has the art historians debating its authenticity, and I’m very much looking forward to forming my own opinion as to whether it’s a genuine Caravaggio or – shock, horror – a fake! I’ll let you know in next month’s newsletter!

My paintings After Caravaggio are all available on my website www.davidhentyartforger.co.uk

Meanwhile, happy June!

David

The Martyrdom of Saint Ursula and Ecce Homo