Caravaggio painting confused and almost sold for a ridiculous price will be exposed; know the history

O Prado Museumfrom Madrid, Spain, will exhibit Ecce HomoThe lost work of Caravaggiountil 2021 attributed to another painter.

The canvas in question was put up for sale at an auction house in Madrid in 2021, for 1,500 euros (around R$8,000 at current prices), alerting experts from Spain and Italy. Suspicions that this, in fact, could be a work by the Italian master led the Spanish Ministry of Culture to ban the sale at the last minute. The Madrid government also granted the painting protected heritage status, barring its export.

The oil painting of Christ with the crown of thorns, created around 1605 and 1609, is part of a list of just 60 works attributed to the Italian. Previously, it was believed that the figure belonged to some unknown artist who was a student of José de Ribera, a Spaniard known for his religious paintings in the first half of the 17th century.

After a thorough analysis conducted by several experts, the Prado Museum issued a report with “sufficient documentary and stylistic evidence” to conclude that Ecce Homo belongs to Caravaggio. The feat “represented one of the greatest discoveries in the history of art, reaching an unprecedented consensus regarding its authentication”, states the institution.

As announced on Monday, the 6th, the current owner of the work granted a temporary loan to the Spanish museum. The painting has been restored and will be on display for nine months, from May 28 to October. The identity of the owner has not been revealed. It is known that he bought the work from the private collection of a family, which had had it in their hands since the 19th century. Before that, the painting belonged to King Philip IV of Spain.

The Prado Museum owns another production by Caravaggio, David with the Head of Goliath.