The painting “Ecce homo”, attributed to Caravaggio and found in Madrid in 2021 when it was about to be auctioned as the work of a lesser-known author, will be temporarily exhibited at the Prado Museum, also in the Spanish capital.
The painting, which now has a new anonymous owner, was loaned to the institution for nine months and can be viewed by the public from May 28th until October, in a “special individual installation”, according to a statement.
Presumably created by the Italian genius in Milan, between 1605 and 1609, “Ecce homo” was analyzed by four experts on Caravaggio’s work, who unanimously attributed authorship.
Prado explained that the loan is the result of the owner’s “generosity” and collaboration with the multinational art gallery Colnaghi.
Announced at the Madrid auction house Ansorena in 2021, with the authorship of a student of the Spanish painter José de Ribera, the work attracted the attention of experts for investigation.
Following an alert from the Prado Museum, the Spanish Ministry of Culture blocked the sale of the painting, which until then belonged to the Spanish Pérez de Castro Méndez family, according to the newspaper El País.
While the image was being analyzed, the regional government opened an administrative process to transform it into an “asset of cultural interest”, preventing its export. Therefore, according to Prado sources, the new owner would reside in Spain.
“This painting condenses the best of the master’s style in the last years of his life”, said David García Cueto, a specialist in Italian painting at Prado.
The painting arrived in Spain in the 17th century, being part of the royal collections for around 200 years. .
