A long-lost painting by the renowned Italian artist Caravaggio has resurfaced at an auction and is now prominently displayed in Madrid's prestigious Prado Museum.
The masterpiece, titled "Ecce Homo," was purchased by an anonymous buyer for a staggering sum of tens of millions of dollars before being loaned to the museum.
Painted by Caravaggio between 1605 and 1609, Ecce Homo was once part of Spain's royal collection, belonging to King Felipe IV. However, it was almost lost to history. For two centuries, the painting adorned the walls of a private family home, mistakenly attributed to a student of Spanish painter Jose de Ribera. Astonishingly, the artwork was brought to auction with a guide price of just over 1,600 U.S. dollars.
"This is one of the greatest discoveries in the recent history of art. We didn't know it was a Caravaggio but it had something magical, something different. We spoke with the Ministry of Culture, which said please, this painting can not leave Spain. That caused some controversy, the auction was stopped, the painting was studied for three years, and eventually it was confirmed to be a Caravaggio," said Carlos Chaguaceda, head of communication of the museum.
Ecce Homo portrays the judgment of Christ with Pontius Pilate and was created during Caravaggio's time as a fugitive following a murder in Rome. The painting exhibits Caravaggio's signature ability to capture light and shadow, showcasing his mastery of blood, violence, drama, and unsettling realism.
The enigmatic Italian painter's tumultuous life and the intensity of his work draw striking parallels. The acquisition of Ecce Homo came at a price of around 40 million U.S. dollars, and it is now on public display, captivating art enthusiasts.
"I love him for the reality and sometimes the cruelty of his paintings with darks and shadows but showing really the suffering of the main characters of the painting. It shows his soul, that is, of a tormented man who has had a short but very intense and impassioned life," said a visitor.
"If you spend some time looking, you see the way that he composes, he leads you, actually, more gently than you would imagine into the ferocity of his imagery making," said another visitor.
Caravaggio's influence on modern painting is widely acknowledged, and his popularity has recently experienced a resurgence, thanks in part to the hit Netflix show Ripley, based on Patricia Highsmith's novel, The Talented Mr. Ripley.
Four centuries later, Caravaggio's extraordinary contrasts and mastery of chiaroscuro continue to captivate art lovers. Ecce Homo stands as a testament to his enduring legacy, breathing new life into the world of art.
Caravaggio's long-lost masterpiece takes center stage at Spain's Prado Museum
