Coming upon the Madonna di Loreto away from its proper home, the Church of Sant' Agostino, is like finding an old neighbour wandering the streets in bedroom slippers. I saw her in Rome a few months ago. Meeting her in the Royal Academy, where she is one of the greatest of the 15 works by Caravaggio in The Genius of Rome, 1592-1623 (the exhibition runs until 20 April), I felt I should take her by the elbow and see her safely back to the church she was made for. Yet one may never see her so clearly again. Mary, handsome, strong, leaning against the door frame, her great baby, more a child really, balanced on her hip, and the elderly, barefoot pilgrims she looks down at - all well lit, not seen as they are in the church, in the gloom or illuminated by a coin-operated light. And one may never again see the picture in such distinguished company. But if you only see it this way you will have to guess at the presence it has at home.

LRB 8 February 2001 | PDF Download