Ecce Homo by Antonello da Messina

Acquired by the Italian State for nearly $15 million, this small panel by Antonello da Messina represents an exceptional moment in the history of art. “Ecce Homo,” temporarily exhibited before its permanent destination, offers a shattering vision of the suffering Christ. The Sicilian master of the 15th century displays all his mastery of oil painting and light, creating a face of poignant humanity. The gaze of the Christ, crowned with thorns, crosses that of the viewer with a rare dramatic intensity. This work marks the beginning of the most radical investigation into the face of suffering during the Renaissance. The presentation in the Capitular Hall of the Senate Library allows for a close appreciation of the details of this painting, of delicate conservation, where every drop of blood, every expression is rendered with almost photographic precision.