Italy Buys Rare Caravaggio Portrait for Around $32.7 Million
The portrait of Monsignor Maffeo Barberini is one of just three Caravaggio portraits—and it’s now in Italy’s public art collection.
A person views Caravaggio's portrait of Monsignor Maffeo Barberini. The portrait was unveiled at Italy’s National Gallery of Ancient Art before going on public display for the first time in Rome, on Nov. 22, 2024. On March 10, 2026, the Italian State acquired the painting. Remo Casilli/File Photo/Reuters
On March 10, Italy’s Ministry of Culture acquired a rare and rarely seen Caravaggio portrait for 30 million euros, about $32.7 million.
Italian Minister of Culture Alessandro Giuli praised the team of art officials, technicians, and institutions who negotiated for more than a year before securing the “exceptionally important work.”
Lorraine Ferrier
Author
Lorraine Ferrier writes about fine arts and craftsmanship for The Epoch Times. She focuses on artists and artisans, primarily in North America and Europe, who imbue their works with beauty and traditional values. She's especially interested in giving a voice to the rare and lesser-known arts and crafts, in the hope that we can preserve our traditional art heritage. She lives and writes in a London suburb, in England.
