Maffeo Barberini Portrait by Caravaggio on display

Maffeo Barberini (1598) Caravaggio

One of Caravaggio’s few portraits will be on display in a special exhibit until February 23, 2025. This portrait is part of a private collection and has never before been on display to the public. The portrait is of Maffeo Barberini, who at 30yrs old was well on his way to being appointed a cardinal and then eventually elected Pope UrbanVIII. Pope Urban VIII was known as a great patron of the arts, commissioning many of Bernini’s works; such as the Baldachin at St. Peter’s Basilica. He is also known for calling for a special inquiry into one of Galileo’s texts which resulted in Galileo spending the remainder of his life (~10yrs) under house arrest.