A major exhibition dedicated to the baroque master Caravaggio has opened in Rome, featuring rare and previously unseen works, some of which have not been displayed in Italy for centuries. Hosted at the Palazzo Barberini museum, this extraordinary event brings together 24 masterpieces from private and public collections across Italy, the U.S., Spain, Ireland, and Britain.
Caravaggio, born Michelangelo Merisi, revolutionized painting with his dramatic use of chiaroscuro, a technique that enhanced the realism and emotional intensity of his subjects. His life was as turbulent as his art, marked by a forced exile from Rome after he killed a man in a brawl. The exhibition traces the final 15 years of his career, from his arrival in Rome in 1595—where he quickly gained fame—to his untimely death in 1610 in southern Tuscany.
Among the highlights is Ecce Homo (Behold the Man), a striking depiction of Christ wearing a crown of thorns. Rediscovered in Spain in 2021 after being lost since the 19th century, this painting is now on display in Italy for the first time in centuries. Other standout works include Self-Portrait as Bacchus, The Cardsharps, and a newly revealed portrait of Monsignor Maffeo Barberini, which was exhibited publicly for the first time only months ago.
Francesca Cappelletti, one of the curators, describes the exhibition as an unparalleled opportunity to witness Caravaggio’s evolution as an artist. “The paintings we have here represent a journey through his remarkable life, showing his transformation from his early works in Rome to what is likely his final piece, created in a desperate attempt to end his exile.”
Thomas Clement Salomon, another curator, emphasizes the rarity of such an exhibition, noting that assembling these works again in the future may be impossible. “Hundreds of thousands of people will be able to admire the most comprehensive collection of Caravaggio paintings seen in decades.”
Running from March 7 to July 6, the exhibition coincides with the Catholic Holy Year, or Jubilee, which is expected to draw up to 32 million visitors to Rome. Palazzo Barberini has already sold 60,000 tickets, confirming its status as one of the most significant art events of the year in Europe. For art lovers and historians alike, this exhibition offers a once-in-a-lifetime chance to experience Caravaggio’s genius in its purest form.
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