Italy Secures Historic Caravaggio Portrait for National Collection

Italy has completed the acquisition of a rare portrait by the baroque master Caravaggio for 30 million euros ($32.7 million). The piece, a significant addition to the nation's collection, depicts the influential cleric Monsignor Maffeo Barberini, who later became Pope Urban VIII.

Held privately in Florence and attributed to Caravaggio in 1963, the artwork made its public debut at Rome's Palazzo Barberini in 2024. Culture Minister Alessandro Giuli revealed the acquisition, celebrating it as part of a push to enhance and protect Italy's public cultural heritage.

This important purchase follows the Ministry's recent acquisition of a Renaissance painting, marking an ongoing effort to secure masterpieces and keep them accessible to the public. Attributed to Caravaggio, around 60 paintings remain globally, notable for their religious themes and dynamic use of chiaroscuro.