Caravaggio’s "The Taking of Christ": A Tale of Art and Intrigue

Caravaggio, a 17th-century rebel artist, painted biblical scenes with raw, bloody realism. Known for his bad temper and sword fights, he once killed a man and fled Rome. His masterpiece, _The Taking of Christ_ (1602), shows Judas betraying Jesus in a dramatic, shadowy scene.

In 2008, this painting was stolen from Ukraine’s Odesa Museum, crudely cut from its frame. After a two-year international hunt involving secret services and an undercover agent, it was recovered in 2010, though still under restoration. Years later, the retired agent wrote a book about the chase.

Inspired by this story, I commissioned a replica: "The Taking of Christ", oil on canvas, 80x100 cm, 2021.