Pinturicchio's Restored 'Bambin Gesù delle Mani' Reveals Renaissance Love Affair

The restoration of Pinturicchio's 'Bambin Gesù delle Mani' (ca. 1492), funded by the Fondazione Guglielmo Giordano of Perugia, has confirmed a long-disputed love affair between Pope Alexander VI Borgia and Giulia Farnese. The painting, originally located in the Borgia Apartments, was cut down in the 17th century, removing the Virgin Mary and leaving only the Christ Child with three hands. A 1612 copy by Pietro Facchetti, discovered in 1940 by art historian Giovanni Incisa della Rocchetta, proved that the original depicted Giulia Farnese as the Virgin and Pope Alexander VI adoring her, as described by Giorgio Vasari in his 'Lives of the Artists.' The painting resurfaced on the antiquarian market a decade ago and was acquired by the Margaritelli Group, which entrusted it to the foundation for study and public display. Andrea Margaritelli, vice-president of the foundation and marketing manager of Listone Giordano, emphasized that this was an act of 'committenza' (cultural investment) rather than mere patronage or sponsorship, stressing the importance of shared values between public and private sectors. He cited successful collaborations with Philip Rylands of the Guggenheim Collection, Tiziana Leopizzi, Gianfranco Imperatori, and others as examples of fruitful public-private partnerships.