Caravaggio’s celebrated depiction of Cupid, painted for Vincenzo Giustiniani, provoked great envy among the painter’s contemporaries. It resulted in an argument that culminated in a trial for libel that nearly saw Rome's most controversial painter sentenced to a life rowing in the papal galleys.

Join Andrew Graham-Dixon as he tells one of the most vibrant and vivid stories in the annals of 17th-century art history, taking you to the dark heart of Rome’s ferally competitive community of artists at a watershed moment in the development of the Baroque style.

About the speaker: Andrew Graham-Dixon is one of the leading art critics and presenters of arts television in the English-speaking world. He has presented numerous landmark series on art for the BBC and other independents. He has a long history of public service in the field of the visual arts and served various committees, including the board of the Baltic Centre for Contemporary Art in Gateshead. As a journalist, Andrew has held the position of chief arts correspondent at the Independent and The Telegraph, as well as being a regular contributor to many other publications including Christie’s Magazine. In the course of his career, Andrew has won numerous awards for writing and broadcasting, and his achievements have been acclaimed by many of his most distinguished peers. He is the author of a number of books about art and artists, and has recently published a groundbreaking study of Vermeer.

Take part at the museum: Join us at the museum for this special talk, followed by drinks and exhibition visit until 20.45.

Watch online: This talk will also be broadcast live from the museum. Online ticketholders will be emailed a link to join 24 hours in advance. Ticketholders will also receive a link to view a recording of the talk, which will be available for two weeks.