The canvas was painted around 1598-1599 and depicts the young Florentine aristocrat Maffeo Barberini. At the time of the portrait, he was just beginning his ecclesiastical career, but three decades later he would become Pope Urban VIII – one of the key figures of the Baroque era and a major patron of the arts, writes ArtMajeur. In the painting, Barberini is represented as a young man with an attentive gaze and noble posture. Caravaggio’s characteristic light shading sharply distinguishes the face from the dark background, creating an almost dramatic effect of presence.
The history of the canvas was no less dramatic than the master’s painting itself. For centuries, the portrait was in the private collection of the Corsini family in Florence and rarely came to the attention of researchers. When the painting reappeared on the art market, its authorship sparked a lively debate. Some experts thought the style was too neat for Caravaggio, while others doubted the documented history of the work.
The final point in the dispute was put by modern research. Experts conducted infrared reflectography, analyzed pigments and compared the writing technique with other early works by the artist. The results showed the characteristic techniques of the master – free underpainting, sharp light accents and specific brushwork.
Fearing that the work might be sold to a foreign collector, the Italian authorities intervened and bought the painting. It will now become part of the state collection and will be exhibited in the Palazzo Barberini in Rome, where the National Gallery of Ancient Art is located.
For historians, this acquisition is of particular importance: portraits occupy a relatively small place in the work of Caravaggio, known primarily for his dramatic religious scenes. The new addition to the collection will provide a better understanding of the artist’s early career and his ties to future patrons.
