Caravaggio’s painting Ecce Homo has been bought for 36 million euros by a British resident of Spain

After four years of hard work, the Italian artist and master of chiaroscuro, Michelangelo Merisi da Caravaggio, completed the beautiful work “Ecce Homo”. This painting became part of the private collection of King Philip IV of Spain. Now, more than 400 years later, the painting has been recognized as Cultural Interest (BIC) by the regional government of Madrid. The work recently found a new owner who paid no less than 36 million euros for it.

In 2021, it was announced that the painting would be put up for auction, with a starting price of only 1,500 euros, as it was initially attributed to a student of painter José de Ribera. However, it was later confirmed that the oil painting turned out to be by Caravaggio. On Monday, May 6, 2024, the Prado Museum and Colnaghi Gallery announced the sale of the painting.

Until now it was painting in the hands of the Pérez de Castro brothers, who received it through their ancestor Evaristo Pérez de Castro. The new owner is now a British citizen with origins in Spain. Since the artwork has been declared BIC and is non-exportable, the painting is not allowed to leave the country except in exceptional cases on a temporary basis.

Although the exact purchase price has not been announced, it is generally believed that the “Ecce Homo” is one of the most expensive works of art in the world. The work’s rarity and historical significance, combined with Caravaggio’s status as one of the greatest masters of all time, make it a priceless possession.

To ensure that the general public can enjoy this unique discovery, the “Ecce Homo” will be exhibited in a special room in the Prado Museum in Madrid. From May 28 to the end of October 2024, visitors from all over the world will have the opportunity to see this masterpiece with their own eyes and experience the grandeur of Caravaggio’s talent. After this period, the painting will be included in the permanent exhibition.