The Villa was built
for Cardinal Scipione Borghese, nephew of Pope Paul V.
It was conceived as a centre of entertainment and
cultural enjoyment by the architect Flaminio Ponzio at
the beginning of the 17th century. Later decorated by
Giovanni Vasanzio, the interior was completely
rearranged by Antonio Asprucci in 1770.
The decorations of the saloons belonging to that period
were completely restored during the course of the last
work of preservation completed in 1997. The villa holds
the splendid family collection started by Scipione
Borghese, connoisseur ( both classic and modern art.
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Afte_ _umero__ conflicting
opinions, CritiCS agree to the attribution of the Portrait
of a Man to Raphael a nd on the date 1503 - 4.
The famous Lady of the Unicorn was painted in Florence in
1505 - 6. From the attribute of the unicorn, symbol of
chastity, and the elegant pendant one deduces that it was a
young lady about to undergo matrimony with all its virtues.The
painting, curiously, was discovered by Roberto Longhi, only
about fifty years ago. The portrait, in fact, had been
re-painted depicting a Saint Catherine of Alessandria. The
more superficial varnish was removed and thus appeared the
splendid lady with unicorn. |
The Deposition signed and dated
1507, was commissioned by the noblewoman from Perugia,
Atalanta Baglioni, in memory of her son, Grifonetto, killed
in 1500, during the struggle in the same family to control
the signory of Perugia. The woman was herself reflected in
the pain of the Virgin; that is the reason for the
prominence of Mary's fainting on the right of the painting.
The left half, slightly more advanced, is occupied with the
moving of Christ to the tomb. The young man in the centre,
in three-quarter profile, unites the two groups. This
important painting was |
