Ecce Homo by Caravaggio (Michelangelo Merisi, 1571-1610). Oil on canvas, 1606-1609 Private collection, in room 8 A. Photo – courtesy of Museo Nacional del Prado ©
From May 28 to October 13, 2024, the Museo Nacional del Prado will host a special exhibition featuring the newly rediscovered Caravaggio masterpiece, Ecce Homo. Thanks to the generosity of its new owner, this rare painting by the Italian master will be showcased in room 8A, offering visitors a unique opportunity to experience one of the approximately 60 known works by Caravaggio.
Believed to have been painted between 1605 and 1609, Ecce Homo is thought to have once belonged to the private collection of Philip IV of Spain. Its addition to the Prado’s collection is particularly significant, complementing the museum’s other Caravaggio piece, David and Goliath, which has recently undergone restoration to reveal its original vibrancy.
The painting’s journey to the Prado began when it resurfaced at the Ansorena auction house in April 2021, initially misattributed to a pupil of José de Ribera. Recognizing its potential, the Prado alerted Spain’s Ministry of Culture. The painting was then under the custodianship of Colnaghi gallery, with Filippo Benappi (Benappi Fine Art) and Andrea Lullo (LulloPampoulides) involved in its preservation. Specialist Andrea Cipriani and his team, supervised by experts from the Comunidad de Madrid, meticulously restored the piece.
Ecce Homo’s reemergence has been hailed as one of the most significant art discoveries in recent history. An in-depth diagnostic investigation led by Claudio Falcucci, a nuclear engineer specializing in the application of scientific techniques to cultural heritage, confirmed the painting’s authenticity. The restoration process was rigorous, with decisions based on exhaustive assessments of the work’s materials and conservation history, reinforcing the attribution to Caravaggio.
To accompany the unveiling, a collaborative publication titled Caravaggio: The Ecce Homo Unveiled features essays by leading experts Keith Christiansen, Gianni Papi, Giuseppe Porzio, and Maria Cristina Terzaghi. This publication underscores the monumental importance of Ecce Homo and provides a comprehensive understanding of this exceptional addition to Caravaggio’s oeuvre.
