$533M Villa With Caravaggio Ceiling Mural Fails To Fascinate At Auction

Last year, it was announced that the only ceiling mural painted by Caravaggio was going on sale together with the sprawling 16th-century villa it was encased in. 

However, no one ended up bidding on the half-acre property, with the auction now postponed to a later date. 

This was despite the historical home, named Villa Aurora, housing the only mural painted by the famed Italian artist in 1957, which features Roman gods Jupiter, Neptune, and Pluto. 

According to The Guardian, the building comes with additional artworks, including frescos by Guercino, which had been commissioned by the villa’s previous owners, the Ludovisi family. 

“There are other rooms decorated spectacularly but the most important works are by Caravaggio and Guercino,” said Alessandro Zuccari, a history professor at Sapienza University.

The 32,000-square-foot abode was being offered for US$533.7 million, with the painting itself being valued at US$351.3 million. The owner of the villa would have to shell out an additional US$12.5 million for the building’s upkeep. 

ARTnews noted that the auctioneers had expected numerous bids, though it unexpectedly turned into a flop when none were offered at all on the day. 

Going forward, the home is slated to go under the hammer again on April 7, with a rumor that the price will be lowered by 20%. 

[via ARTnews and The Guardian, cover image via Web Gallery of Art]