A villa in Rome, a masterpiece, a Texan princess – and in the end there is foreclosure. Three, two, one – nobody wants it!
The Roman villa could have been one of the most expensive properties in the world: sales proceeds of around 500 million euros were expected.
what happened there?
The hammer that didn’t go under the hammer: The building has the only known ceiling painting by the world-famous Italian Baroque master Caravaggio. The 2.75 meter wide fresco entitled “Jupiter, Neptune and Pluto” alone is estimated at 310 million euros.
Photo: RICCARDO ANTIMIANI/AFP
” data-zoom-src=”https://bilder.bild.de/fotos/das-caravaggio-deckegemaelde-jupiter-neptune-und-pluto-was-estimated-at-310-million-euro-es-zie- bc57dd5afc4e40c8bb9a886f8c6c45e5-78877326/Bild/8.bild.jpg”/> The Caravaggio ceiling painting “Jupiter, Neptune and Pluto” is estimated at 310 million euros. It graces a tiny room next to a spiral staircase on the second floorPhoto: RICCARDO ANTIMIANI/AFP
Caravaggio (1571-1610) created the work of art in the alchemy laboratory of this former hunting lodge around 1597. The legendary Italian painter of the early baroque period became famous above all for the strong light-dark contrasts in his paintings: this makes the figures and scenes appear almost eerie realistic.
The reason for the auction was a dispute between the heirs of a Roman noble family and their stepmother, a Texas-born princess.
Photo: Gregorio Borgia / dpa
” data-zoom-src=”https://bilder.bild.de/fotos/prinzessin-rita-boncompagni-ludovisi-im-casino-dellaurora-aka-known-as-villa-aurora-e8b09bdd40de4927a1cb7ece403a03d3-78877290/Bild/ 8.image.jpg”/> Princess Rita Boncompagni Ludovisi at the Casino dell’Aurora, also known as Villa Aurora. She says: “It was really a privilege to live here”Photo: Gregorio Borgia / dpa
Princess Rita Jenrett Boncompagni Ludovisi, formerly known as Rita Carpenter, lived in the house for almost two decades. Until this Tuesday, January 18 at 3 p.m. Then the bidding for the villa with the treasure should actually begin, starting bid 353 million euros.
“Since I received the judge’s notification on September 2nd, I have been very upset. I hardly slept,” Boncompagni Ludovisi told The Associated Press news agency before the auction. “It’s like going through the stages of death and dying.”
Photo: EPA
” data-zoom-src=”https://bilder.bild.de/fotos/das-1570-erbaute-haus-ist-seit-beginning-of-the-16th-century-owned-by-the-family-ludovisi- after-the-to-09693371-78877318/Bild/8.bild.jpg”/> The house, built in 1570, has been owned by the Ludovisi family since the beginning of the 16th century. After the death of Prince Nicolo Boncompagni Ludovisi in 2018, the mansion became the subject of an inheritance dispute between the children of his first marriage and his third wife, Princess Rita, who was born in San Antonio, TexasPhoto: EPA
Photo: REMO CASILLI / Reuters