Italy Acquires Caravaggio’s “Portrait of Monsignor Maffeo Barberini” for €30 Million

The Italian state has completed the acquisition of Michelangelo Merisi da Caravaggio’s “Portrait of Monsignor Maffeo Barberini” for €30 million, following a lengthy negotiation. The Ministry of Culture announced the purchase, calling it one of the most significant investments ever made by the Italian State for the acquisition of a operate of art.

Once administrative procedures are finalized, the painting will become part of the Italian state’s cultural heritage and will be permanently housed in the National Galleries of Ancient Art in Rome, specifically within the collections of Palazzo Barberini.

A Landmark Portrait

Minister of Culture, Alessandro Giuli, explained that the artwork is “of exceptional importance” and will now be accessible to the public and the international scientific community. ANSA reports that the portrait depicts Maffeo Barberini, the future Pope Urban VIII (1568–1644), around the age of thirty, while serving as a cleric of the Apostolic Chamber—a pivotal moment in his ascent to power.

Historical Significance and Attribution

The painting was first attributed to Caravaggio by art historian Roberto Longhi in his 1963 article, “The true ‘Maffeo Barberini’ of Caravaggio,” published in the magazine Paragone. Since then, the attribution has been widely accepted by critics. Longhi recognized the painting as a foundational moment in modern portraiture, highlighting Caravaggio’s innovative psychological intensity and his ability to capture the subject’s presence without relying on conventional rhetorical devices.

With only three confirmed portraits attributed to Caravaggio worldwide, “Portrait of Monsignor Maffeo Barberini” is an exceptionally rare and key work. It provides crucial insight into the artist’s development of portraiture between the late 16th and early 17th centuries.