A forgotten 16th-century portrait by Caravaggio has hit the public display for the first time since its creation.
The work is a portrait of Maffeo Barberini, made by Caravaggio in 1598. The subject was a 30 years old Florentine aristocrat at the time of the painting. However, he would eventually rise to be coronated as Pope Urban VIII in 1623. Urban VIII came to power at a time when papal influence on politics and governance was still significant. His illustrious tenure is well-known for expanding borders and standing steadfast during the Thirty Years War. However, Urban VIII is also often decried for prosecuting Galileo for his scientific findings.
The painting by Caravaggio depicts Barberini in a black biretta and a green sleeveless cassock – both garments typical to the Catholic clergy. He is seen holding a letter – perhaps as a nod to his doctorate of law acquired at the University of Pisa. From early in his life, Barberini was interested in the arts. Even after becoming the pope, he continued being a patron of art and artists. The portrait itself remained in the possession of the Barberini family for over three centuries. In the 1930s, the family sold its estate – along with the painting. Its whereabouts remained undisclosed until the 1960s.
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However, now the portrait is finally getting a public display – for the first time ever in its history. The painting will be displayed at the National Gallery of Ancient, which itself is housed in the Palazzo Barberini in Rome. Speaking of the painting, curator Paolo Nicita said: “The heart of the painting lies in the hands, the left hand clutching a letter and the right hand emerging from the painting. It is a painting that expresses itself through gestures.”
