Three heads that disappeared with time in Caravaggio's Martyrdom of St. Ursula resurfaced

At the Caravaggio 2025 exhibition inaugurated in Rome at Palazzo Barberini, curated by Francesca Cappelletti, Maria Cristina Terzaghi and Thomas Clement Salomon, and on view from March 7 to July 6, 2025, Merisi’s last work, The Martyrdom of St. Ursula, a masterpiece belonging to the Intesa Sanpaolo collections and housed in the Neapolitan venue, is also on display. Precisely on the occasion of one of the most important and ambitious exhibition projects ever dedicated to Caravaggio, the work underwent a meticulous cleaning operation carried out by restorers Laura Cibrario and Fabiola Jatta. This intervention brought to light three figures that had disappeared with time. Three heads have in fact re-emerged: to the right of Attila, the king of the Huns rejected by Ursula, the tip of a soldier’s nose and the perimeter of his helmet have appeared. In addition, new details of a figure, possibly a pilgrim, wearing a hat have emerged. And above Saint Ursula’s head, a helmet with an eye slit, belonging to an armiger.

The conservation restoration also restored the canvas, made by Caravaggio in 1610 shortly before his death, to its original colors and shapes, enhancing its brilliance and sharpness. For the occasion, the painting was also given a new 17th-century frame, adapted to integrate with the climaframe, a system designed to ensure its optimal conservation over time.

“The responsibility of having Caravaggio’s last painting in the collection requires the involvement of the best scholars, top experts and private companies with the greatest technical expertise, in the knowledge that they are taking care of a piece of universal heritage. Every decision is made together with the Superintendency and the Ministry. The conservation restoration, the careful care, the new frame and better protection allow the public to know more and more about the value of Intesa Sanpaolo’s collections,” said Michele Coppola, Executive Director Art Culture and Historical Heritage of Intesa Sanpaolo and General Director of Gallerie d’Italia.

Photo by Francesco Mazzei.

Three heads that disappeared with time in Caravaggio's Martyrdom of St. Ursula resurfaced

Warning: the translation into English of the original Italian article was created using automatic tools. We undertake to review all articles, but we do not guarantee the total absence of inaccuracies in the translation due to the program. You can find the original by clicking on the ITA button. If you find any mistake,please contact us.