2024-04-23
Despite the announcement of two auctions and the reduction of the price of the property by 20%, no one wanted to buy the magnificent property in the centre of Rome (Villa Aurora). An integral part of the mansion is polychrome by Caravaggio, Guercino, a sculpture by Michelangelo and many other wonderful works of art. The price can be discouraging, after the reduction, it amounted to 282 million euros.
Villa Aurora or Casino dell'Aurora (named after the Roman goddess of the dawn who is depicted in Guercino's polychrome painting) was built in 1570 on the site of Julius Caesar's former villa. In 1621 the property passed into the hands of Cardinal Ludovico Ludovisi, who created a 36-hectare impressive park. The cardinal's descendants sold most of the property in 1883. On the site of the 36-hectare park, the Roman district of Ludovisi was created; the 2200 m2 Villa Aurora and a small plot of land remained in the family's hands.
The polychromy by Caravaggio was probably created around 1597 and commissioned by Cardinal Del Monte. It is located on the ceiling in one of the rooms of the Villa Aurora. Interestingly, it is the only known work of the master created on the wall, the viewer can see on it an extremely difficult shortcut of perspective. The observer looks at Jupiter, Neptune and Pluto, the former extending his hand to move the celestial sphere.
The first attempt to sell the property took place in January this year, the asking price was €353 million. The buyer who would buy the property will be required to carry out the conservation and restoration of the entire building and some works, which will cost him approximately another 11 million euros. There has even been a petition signed by 40,000 people about this remarkable monument, calling on the Italian government to buy it in order to preserve it in public hands. From January 2022, anyone with internet access can take a free virtual tour of the building led by Princess Rita Boncompagni Ludovisi.