Caravaggio’s mesmerising Portrait of a Gentleman with a Ruff has not been seen in public nor studied for 25 years. With masterful skill, renowned Caravaggio expert Gianni Papi marks the end of this hiatus and restores the painting to its rightful place among Caravaggio’s most special portraits. Papi opens an intriguing new line of research into Caravaggio’s portraiture and his relationship with his sitters.

Through the exploration of Caravaggio’s tempestuous last year in Rome, Papi makes a compelling case for the identity of the sitter, offering a glimpse into the artist’s life during this turbulent time.