A lost masterpiece by Michelangelo Merisi da Caravaggio has recently been rediscovered and is now being showcased in what experts are calling one of the most significant art discoveries in history.
Titled “Ecce Homo” (“Behold the Man”), the painting, created between 1605 and 1609, depicts the moment when Pontius Pilate presents the scourged Jesus Christ to the crowd before his crucifixion.
The renowned Museo del Prado in Madrid, Spain, where the painting is now on display, describes “Ecce Homo” as “one of the most valuable old master artworks in the world.”
Previously owned by private collectors who believed it to be the work of José de Ribera, a student of the Baroque period, the painting resurfaced in 2021 at an art auction in Madrid, initially set to be sold for just $1,600. However, suspicions that it might be a Caravaggio prompted art experts to intervene. The Spanish Ministry of Culture halted the sale for further investigation.
The Museo del Prado reports that the painting underwent a thorough diagnostic investigation by Claudio Falcucci, a nuclear engineer known for his expertise in the scientific study and conservation of cultural artifacts.
Following this, the painting was restored. After extensive study and restoration, four leading experts on Caravaggio and Baroque painting confirmed with passionate certainty that “Ecce Homo” is indeed a masterpiece by the Italian artist.
The painting is believed to have once been part of the private collection of King Philip IV of Spain and Portugal and is now recognized as one of only 60 known works by Caravaggio. According to the BBC, its value is estimated at nearly $40 million.
Caravaggio, a highly influential Baroque artist, is celebrated for his dramatic use of light and shadow and his emotionally charged, theatrical depictions of biblical and mythological scenes. His famous works include “The Calling of Saint Matthew,” “Supper at Emmaus,” and “The Incredulity of Saint Thomas.”
“Ecce Homo” portrays a scourged Christ at the center, flanked by Pilate and a soldier. Christ, dressed in a vivid crimson cloak and crowned with thorns, holds a scepter. Despite the bright red blood dripping from his crown, Jesus appears serene, while Pilate and the soldier look alarmed. The painting exemplifies Caravaggio’s mastery of light and shadow, and the detailed textures of clothing, skin, and hair.
This moment in the passion narrative is particularly significant for Catholics, as Pilate’s “Ecce Homo” parallels John the Baptist’s proclamation in John 1:29: “Behold the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world.” This proclamation is echoed by the priest during the elevation of the holy Eucharist at a crucial moment in the Mass.
The masterpiece is on loan to the Museo del Prado and will be on display from May 28 through October 13. Tickets for the exhibit can be purchased on the Museo del Prado’s website. The museum also permanently displays another Caravaggio masterpiece, “David and Goliath.”