Caravaggio's 'Boy with a Basket of Fruit' Unveiled Without Glass at Galleria Borghese

The Galleria Borghese in Rome has removed the protective glass from Caravaggio's 'Boy with a Basket of Fruit' (Giovane con canestra di frutta), allowing visitors an unobstructed view of the masterpiece for the first time in years. Director Francesca Cappelletti made the decision, stating the glass had no conservation purpose and was kept only out of inertia. The painting, created between the late 1580s and early 1590s, is one of six Caravaggio works in the museum. It was confiscated in 1607 from Giuseppe Cesari (Cavalier d'Arpino) by Pope Paul V's emissaries and later given to Scipione Borghese. The removal aligns with a broader museum rehang that includes lowering some paintings to improve visitor experience. Cappelletti also announced that Raphael's 'Lady with a Unicorn' (Dama con liocorno) may lose its glass by September pending tests. The painting's fruit basket has been interpreted as a symbol of death (Giulio Carlo Argan), love (Calvesi), or autumn (Bauch).