Three years ago, a painting of Jesus wearing a crown of thorns was discovered in Spain. It wasn’t a big deal. The painting measured 43 by 33 inches and was believed to be by a follower of the Spanish artist José de Ribera. But in 2021, when it was put up for auction with a reserve of $1,780, the Prado intervened, placing an export ban on the work. The museum’s curators suggested the unthinkable—that it might be a Caravaggio. Maria Cristina Terzaghi, an associate art history professor in Rome, booked a plane ticket and flew to the Spanish capital. The minute she saw Christ’s red robe and the face of Pilate, she knew. “It’s a Caravaggio,” Terzaghi told the newspaper El Pais. “I have no doubts.” The authenticated Caravaggio has been restored, and now goes on view for the first time. —Elena Clavarino