ROME (AP) 鈥� Italy has bought a rare portrait by baroque painter Caravaggio for 30 million euros (about $35 million), one of the largest state investments ever for a single artwork, the country鈥檚 Culture Ministry said Tuesday.
The portrait, painted around 1598 and attributed to Caravaggio in 1963, depicts Maffeo Barberini, a nobleman who later became Pope Urban VIII.
The painting was acquired from a private collection by the Italian state after over a year of negotiations and will now enter Rome鈥檚 Palazzo Barberini permanent collection.
鈥淭his is a work of exceptional importance,鈥� Culture Minister Alessandro Giuli said in a statement, noting the painting was a turning point in Caravaggio鈥檚 modern rediscovery and its purchase has helped strengthen the presence of his works in Italian public collections.
The new acquisition follows a recent one of Antonello da Messina鈥檚 鈥淓cce Homo,鈥� and is part of Italy鈥檚 broader project to strengthen the national cultural heritage, making some art history masterpieces accessible to scholars and the public.
The 鈥淧ortrait of Monsignor Maffeo Barberini鈥� depicts the future pope in his 30s, dressed as a cleric of the Apostolic Chamber, at a crucial moment in his rise to power.
The work was made famous by art critic Roberto Longhi in his 1963 article 鈥淭he True 鈥楳affeo Barberini鈥� of Caravaggio,鈥� and has since been widely recognized by critics as a work by Caravaggio, also known as Michelangelo Merisi.
Longhi called the painting 鈥渙ne of the founding moments of modern portraiture,” emphasizing how Caravaggio ushered in a new psychological intensity.
Caravaggio revolutionized painting at the turn of the 17th century by introducing a dramatic use of light that became the cornerstone of the Baroque style. He is currently one of the most studied artists in the world, yet the number of his confirmed works remains extremely limited.
At Palazzo Barberini, the portrait will be displayed alongside Caravaggio鈥檚 other works 鈥� one of the world鈥檚 most important collections 鈥� in particular along another of Caravaggio鈥檚 masterpieces, 鈥淛udith Slaying Holofernes,鈥� also purchased by the Italian state in 1971.
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