Il Ritratto di Francesco Barberini di Caravaggio

by Gianni Papi

The book presents a new portrait to be attributed to Merisi, distinguished by both its significant provenance and its high quality. It has not received the critical attention it merits throughout the many years of increasingly intensive scholarship on Caravaggio, particularly over the past five decades.

The work unquestionably depicts Francesco Barberini, uncle of Maffeo Barberini, the future Pope Urban VIII. This identification is confirmed by the letter held in the prelate’s hand, which is addressed “To the Most Illustrious Mons. Francesco Barberini.”

The critical history of this canvas is comparatively brief, despite its close connection to the Portrait of Maffeo Barberini as a Young Man, which has attracted far greater scholarly attention.

It seems the two paintings were executed at different times, and thus form an unusual pendant pair, and Maffeo commissioned Merisi to paint his uncle’s portrait after his own had been completed, and, most likely, after his uncle’s death in 1600 at the age of 72.