Caravaggio's hidden masterpiece unveiled in Rome's Palazzo Barberini
A real treat for art enthusiasts: In Rome, a previously unexhibited painting by Caravaggio has been publicly unveiled. The portrait of the young Maffeo Barberini, the future Pope Urban VIII, can be admired at Palazzo Barberini for three months.
10:17 AM EST, November 23, 2024
Starting Saturday, November 23, a never-before-publicly-exhibited painting by the Baroque master, Michelangelo Merisi da Caravaggio, will be available for viewing at Palazzo Barberini in Rome. The portrait, depicting young Maffeo Barberini, the future Pope Urban VIII, was borrowed from a private collection where it had been since the 1960s. Previously, the painting belonged to the Barberini family.
The exhibited work was created around the year 1598 and will remain in the palace until February 23 of next year. The portrait is displayed in the landscape room of the famous Palazzo Barberini, located near Piazza Barberini. Italian media highlight that "Maffeo Barberini is coming home," referencing the painting's original storage location.
The piece depicts a young church dignitary from Florence, the creator of the Barberini family’s power. The artist portrayed him sitting in a chair, holding a letter in one hand while making a commanding gesture with the other.
The Caravaggio painting that "everyone wanted to see"
Characteristic features of Caravaggio's style, such as the skin's brightness, the depiction of the eyes and hands, and the light and shadow contrasts, have led experts to unanimously attribute the authorship of this portrait to him.
"It is the Caravaggio painting that everyone has wanted to see for years. It has never been exhibited, lent, or the subject of exhibitions," said Thomas Clement Salomon, director of the National Gallery of Ancient Art located in Palazzo Barberini, as cited by ANSA.
This masterpiece depicts the great personality of Maffeo Barberini, who was an extraordinary figure – "not only an extremely powerful man of power, but also a great and refined intellectual," Clement added.
Art historian Paola Nicita deemed the exhibition of the painting an "epochal event." She emphasized: "It is not a rediscovered painting, it has been known about since the 1960s, but since then it had only been seen by five or six specialists."
Experts note that portraits by Caravaggio are extremely rare and can be counted on the fingers of one hand. Some have been lost, and others have never been found. The exhibition of this work is thus a unique opportunity for art lovers.
