MADRID, May 27, 2024 – Museo Nacional del Prado presents the lost Caravaggio: Ecce Homo, a masterpiece by the Italian painter. Thanks to the generosity of its new owner, Ecce Homo by Caravaggio will be on display at the Museo Nacional del Prado, in a special one-piece exhibition, in room 8 A from 28 May until 13 October 2024.
Ecce Homo by Caravaggio (Michelangelo Merisi, 1571-1610). Oil on canvas, 1606-1609 Private collection, in room 8 A. Photo © Museo Nacional del Prado
Painted by the great Italian artist around 1605-09 and believed to have once been part of the private collection of Phillip IV of Spain, the painting is one of around only 60 known works by Caravaggio in existence, and thus one of the most valuable old master artworks in the world. This painting enriches the permanent collection of the Museo Nacional del Prado, which holds one of the few works by the master in a Spanish collection, David and Goliath, a painting that has recovered its colours and original contrasts after its restoration.
Since the Prado Museum alerted Spain’s Ministry of Culture of the relevance of the painting when it reemerged at Ansorena auction house in April 2021 attributed to a pupil of José de Ribera, the work has been under the custodianship of the art gallery Colnaghi, in collaboration with Filippo Benappi (Benappi Fine Art) and Andrea Lullo (Lullo Pampoulides). The painting was restored by specialist Andrea Cipriani and his team under the supervision of experts from the Comunidad de Madrid regional government.
Since its reappearance at auction three years ago, Ecce Homo has represented one of the greatest discoveries in the history of art, inspiring an unprecedented speed of consensus around its authentication. Following an in-depth diagnostic investigation by Claudio Falcucci – a nuclear engineer specialising in applying scientific techniques to the study and conservation of cultural heritage – restoration has been carried out in an informed and rigorous manner, allowing each decision to be based on an exhaustive assessment of the work’s constituent materials, their specific alteration processes, and the painting’s conservation history, reaffirming this initial attribution to the Italian master.
The unveiling of the Ecce Homo and the announcement of this loan is accompanied by a collaborative publication bringing together leading experts in the field with seminal essays by Keith Christiansen, Gianni Papi, Giuseppe Porzio and Maria Cristina Terzaghi, bearing testament to the work’s monumental importance. Titled Caravaggio: The Ecce Homo Unveiled, it offers an essential starting point for the understanding of this new addition to Caravaggio’s oeuvre.
SOURCE Museo Nacional del Prado
This striking painting, “Ecce Homo” by Caravaggio (Michelangelo Merisi, 1571-1610), is an oil on canvas created between 1606 and 1609. It is currently held in a private collection and displayed in room 8 A of the Museo Nacional del Prado. The photograph captures the painting with vivid clarity, showcasing Caravaggio’s masterful use of chiaroscuro—a technique that plays with light and shadow to create a dramatic effect.
In the composition, the central figure is Jesus Christ, crowned with thorns and bearing the physical and emotional scars of his suffering. His expression is one of profound sorrow and resignation, emphasizing the weight of his imminent sacrifice. To his right, a Roman soldier is depicted, his face marked by a stern and somewhat indifferent expression as he holds a reed in his hand, a symbol of mockery. To the left, another figure, possibly Pontius Pilate or a Jewish elder, gestures towards Jesus, presenting him to the unseen crowd with an almost detached demeanor.
Caravaggio’s signature realism is evident in the detailed rendering of the characters’ faces and the intricate folds of their garments. The rich, deep hues of red and brown dominate the color palette, enhancing the somber mood of the scene. The background is dark, allowing the figures to stand out starkly, further intensifying the emotional impact of the painting.
The frame of the painting is ornate, with a golden inner border that complements the richness of the canvas. The photograph itself, taken in the Museo Nacional del Prado, captures not only the painting but also its context within the gallery, hinting at the reverent atmosphere of the museum space dedicated to such masterpieces. This work exemplifies Caravaggio’s ability to convey profound human emotion and theological significance through his art.