Caravaggio’s “The Portrait of Monsignor Maffeo Barberini”, has been purchased by the Ministry of Culture for 30 million euros, depicts the future Pope Urban VIII as a young man, in the guise of cleric of the Apostolic Camera, at a crucial moment in his rise.

The painting had already been exhibited at Palazzo Barberini between 2024 and 2025, allowing scholars and the public to appreciate its value before its final acquisition by the state. The BAAC visited Palazzo Barberini in 2025 during the exhibition, you can find our Itinerary here.

“A very important investment to strengthen the national cultural heritage and make masterpieces accessible that would otherwise be destined for the private market. This acquisition, together with that of ‘Ecce Homo’ by Antonello da Messina, is part of a broader project to strengthen the national cultural heritage that the Ministry of Culture will continue to carry out in the coming months, with the aim of making some masterpieces of art history, otherwise destined for the private market, accessible to scholars and enthusiasts.” Alessandro Giuli, Minister of Culture (Translated from Italian)

The deed of purchase of Caravaggio’s ‘Portrait of Monsignor Maffeo Barberini’ has been signed, which, at the end of the required administrative procedures, will become part of the State’s heritage and will be assigned to the National Galleries of Ancient Art in Rome, permanently joining the collections of Palazzo Barberini.