CARAVAGGIO 2025, Image: Barberini Corsini Gallerie Nazionali

Rome’s Blockbuster Caravaggio Exhibition Unveils a Long-Lost Masterpiece

By Elysia Lior, 07 Mar 2025

Rome's Palazzo Barberini is hosting one of the most anticipated exhibitions of 2025, dedicated to Baroque master Michelangelo Merisi da Caravaggio. The show features over 50 works, including the sensational rediscovery of Portrait of Maffeo Barberini, unseen for over four centuries.

The exhibition explores Caravaggio’s profound artistic journey, highlighting how his revolutionary use of chiaroscuro (light and shadow) and dramatic realism transformed European painting. Visitors will trace his development through celebrated pieces such as Judith and Holofernes and The Sacrifice of Isaac, alongside works by his contemporaries, offering rich context to Caravaggio’s enduring influence.

One of the show’s key narratives focuses on Maffeo Barberini, a major patron of Caravaggio who later ascended to the papacy as Pope Urban VIII. The exhibition reveals how Barberini’s support shaped some of Caravaggio’s most important commissions in Rome, shedding light on the complex relationship between power, art, and religion in the early 17th century.

The rediscovered portrait of Barberini, believed lost for centuries, has already caused a stir in the art world. Its recovery offers scholars a new lens into Caravaggio’s technique, particularly his ability to capture psychological depth through light and realism. Experts are hailing it as a critical addition to Caravaggio’s known body of work, representing a rare convergence of historical significance and artistic mastery.

Beyond Caravaggio’s own works, the exhibition includes pieces by contemporaries such as Gian Lorenzo Bernini and Andrea Sacchi, creating a broader dialogue about Baroque innovation in Rome. The exhibition is carefully curated to show how Caravaggio's radical vision influenced generations of artists and how his realism challenged prevailing artistic and religious conventions.

Organisers expect over 100,000 visitors, with the Palazzo Barberini accommodating up to 1,500 visitors per day, and predict that ticket sales — averaging €10 — could generate over €1 million, making this one of the year's most significant cultural events in Italy.

Divided into 12 thematic sections, the exhibition provides an immersive journey into Caravaggio’s life and art, from his turbulent Roman years to his lasting influence on European art history. Marketing efforts are reaching over a million people, cementing the show’s status as a must-see international event for art lovers, scholars, and tourists alike.

Running until 6 July 2025, this exhibition not only celebrates Caravaggio’s genius but also reflects on the complex social and political world that shaped his work. For a city rich in Caravaggio's legacy, this exhibition is an extraordinary moment to rediscover his art and understand the revolutionary impact he had on the art world.