Readers will be aware of our recommendation of the Palazzo Barberini as one of Europe’s great art collections, surprisingly little visited in otherwise overcrowded Rome.

And it has just added another, striking, Caravaggio to its permanent collection—this one a portrait of Pope Urban VIII.  (A complete list of popes here»)  Urban VIII—born Maffeo Barberini—with his widely visible symbol of bees was pope from 1623 to 1644. He was a great supporter of the arts, evidenced right here in his Palazzo Barberini and elsewhere in Rome (more to follow).

Press reports (BBC here») suggest Italy paid €30m for the painting. 

I found it #intheblueguide