MiC acquires a Caravaggio for Palazzo Barberini: the 'Portrait of Monsignor Maffeo Barberini' joins

MiC secures a Caravaggio for public collections

The Ministry of Culture has completed the acquisition of the Portrait of Monsignor Maffeo Barberini, attributed to Michelangelo Merisi, known as Caravaggio. After more than a year of negotiations, the transaction closed at approximately €30 million. Once administrative formalities are complete, the painting will enter the State collections and be assigned to the Gallerie Nazionali di Arte Antica in Rome.

Key facts about the work

• Attributed artist: Caravaggio (Michelangelo Merisi).
• Subject: Portrait of Monsignor Maffeo Barberini, later Pope Urban VIII.
• Purchase price: around €30 million.
• Acquisition route: agreement reached with a private collection following extended negotiations.

Why this acquisition matters

The painting is a rare example of a securely attributed Caravaggio portrait: the corpus of accepted works is small and confirmed portraits are extremely limited. Bringing the work into public ownership expands research opportunities and makes a major artwork accessible to scholars and the general public, rather than remaining in private hands.

Display and museum context

The painting will be housed at Palazzo Barberini, where it can be displayed alongside other Caravaggesque works in one of the world's important collections. The work had previously been shown temporarily at Palazzo Barberini during a major exhibition that attracted wide audiences and scholarly attention; the acquisition secures its long-term public availability and supports future exhibition and research programs.

Impact on the national collection and visitors

• The purchase is among the most significant recent State investments to strengthen public art holdings.
• It enables direct study and conservation by museum professionals and supports educational initiatives.
• It reinforces the Gallerie Nazionali's role in preserving and promoting Italy's cultural heritage.

Practical note: as a permanent addition to the national collection, the work will remain in the museum context and be integrated into the display and research programs of the Gallerie Nazionali di Arte Antica.