00:00 In the largest museum in the world, Italian painters have pride of place in the Grand Gallery.
00:06 A collection that has had to make some room for prestigious artworks from the Capodimonte Museum.
00:12 By intermixing the work of the two institutions, the exhibition "Naples in Paris"
00:19 becomes the largest show ever devoted to the Italian Renaissance.
00:23 The effect is so surprising and I find that interesting.
00:29 I'm overjoyed because I get to see the Bellini from Capodimonte that I didn't get to see
00:35 because the Capodimonte is too big and I know the Louvre well, so that's lucky.
00:40 I find the juxtaposition innovative and interesting.
00:45 The Capodimonte Museum in Naples is undergoing a facelift.
00:51 Currently closed to the public, the museum has lent 70 major works,
00:56 including this Baroque porcelain sculpture, the largest in the world.
01:00 Also quite fragile, it's never left Italy before.
01:04 The museum has also entrusted the Louvre with its star piece,
01:09 the "Flagellation of Christ" signed by Caravaggio.
01:13 Caravaggio has become almost a rock star of Baroque painting.
01:18 His name is the most beloved and well-known.
01:21 Our era identifies more with Caravaggio than, say, Raphael.
01:26 Other exceptional treasures, this box from the 17th century.
01:31 Paintings by Francesco Mazzola and Artemisia Gentileschi,
01:36 one of the first women to be recognized for her artistry.
01:40 But the painting the Louvre's curator is most excited about is this "Crucifixion" by Masaccio.
01:47 There are no works by the Italian artist in the museum's permanent collection.
01:54 The loan from the Capodimonte makes it possible for us to fill one of the gaps in the Louvre
01:59 for six months.
02:00 It's been an obsession in the painting department for the past 50 years to be able to hang a
02:04 painting by Masaccio finally to complete the collection.
02:07 We don't have any of his works, but we're very happy with the loan from Capodimonte.
02:11 The exhibition will run for six months,
02:16 and it's considered one of the summer's blockbusters shows.
02:22 blockbusters shows.
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