Rare Caravaggio Painting Unveiled in Rome After Decades in Private Collection

Caravaggio’s “Portrait of Monsignor Maffeo Barberini” on display at the Palazzo Barberini in Rome.Credit...Alberto PizzoliAgence France-Presse — Getty Images

A previously unseen portrait by the renowned Italian artist Caravaggio has gone on display at the Palazzo Barberini in Rome, Italy. The painting, "Portrait of Monsignor Maffeo Barberini," has been hidden away in a private collection in Florence for decades.

The portrait's public debut is the result of months of negotiations between the painting's owners and Thomas Clement Salomon, the director of Italy's National Galleries of Ancient Art. Salomon described the painting as a "priority" for the museum, despite initial doubts about its availability.

The painting is believed to depict Monsignor Maffeo Barberini, who later became Pope Urban VIII, at around 30 years old. While the attribution to Caravaggio has been widely accepted since 1963, some questions remain about the painting's provenance and the identity of the sitter.

The portrait will remain on display at the Palazzo Barberini until February 23. Italian culture ministry officials hope to raise funds to purchase the painting, which could cost millions, to keep it in the country's cultural heritage.