34 works by Caravaggio go on tour

Gosselin Mobility and the Opera Omnia exhibition

According to Italian Ambassador Augusto Massari, this exhibition with digital reproductions of the Caravaggios show the painter’s irrepressible force of provocation and his passionate search for truth that make Caravaggio the genius that everyone knows.

The journey covered over 12,000 kilometers and the cargo was in transit for more than 200 hours. By the time they have been returned to Rome, this is what the 34 works by the Italian painter Caravaggio will have travelled. This art collection has been travelling around Central Asia since November, with stops in Tbilisi (Georgia), Baku (Azerbaijan) and Ashgabat (Turkmenistan). By the end of the tour, the works of this Italian Baroque master will have drawn tens of thousands of visitors. 

Double seal

“We move art collections on a regular basis for embassies, companies or private individuals. This collection was very unique, however,” according to Patrizio Tiscioni, customer care executive and Barbara Savelli, director of Gosselin Mobility Italy. “The works were first packed in enormous, custom-made shipping crates, one of which was even five meters long. After that, the crates were double-sealed by the Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Loading and unloading was supervised by a representative from the ministry.”

Museum employees flown in

“Once at their destination, the works of art first had to acclimatize for 24 hours to adjust to the local climate. Unpacking and installing them in the exposition space was handled by Italian museum staff flown in specially from Rome for the job,” John Braeckeveldt, regional manager for the Caucasus told us. “It’s no coincidence that the Italian government entrusted Gosselin Mobility with the transport; we have a great deal of expertise in moving art collections. In Tbilisi alone we moved art collections for six embassies in recent years. Having our own offices and employees throughout Central Asia enables us to respond quickly.”

A not-so-ideal son-in-law

Michelangelo Merisi da Caravaggio - known as Caravaggio to his friends - was born in 1571. Apart from painting, he was also pretty skilled at fist-fights, arguments and doling out insults. When he killed a man during a sword fight in 1606, he had no choice but to flee Rome. He also actively sought to provoke scandals when it came to his canvases, and regularly hired prostitutes to pose as his models. Although he might not have been the ideal son-in-law, he was a modest man; he only signed his name to one of his paintings. 

About Gosselin

Gosselin Mobility is a leading provider of international moving and relocation services. Our clients are  multinationals, relocation management companies, expats, diplomats, military personnel and private persons. Gosselin Mobility has 56 offices in 34 countries and has a strong presence in Europe, Eastern Europe, Russia, the Caucasus and Central Asia.

Gosselin Mobility is a division of the Gosselin Group that has its headquarters in Antwerp, Belgium. The company was founded in 1930 and employs 800 co-workers that generate more than 300 million euro in turnover.