Caravaggio, auction for Casino dell'Aurora fails (as everyone predicted)

As was widely expected (and as indeed everyone had predicted), the auction for the Casino dell’Aurora, the former annex of Villa Ludovisi, world-famous for being the place where Caravaggio’s only existing mural painting is preserved, was deserted. The price was too high: the property was valued at 471 million euros and the auction started from a base set at 353 million 250 thousand euros, but many in recent weeks had criticized the estimate, which was considered excessive and conducted with unusual parameters for such a building. Thus, no one launched the minimum bid.

Now, the historic Ludovisi-Boncompagni mansion is awaiting another round, already set by the court for April 7, with the price reduced by 20 percent (a considerable saving for the eventual buyer). In recent days, the press has been abuzz about the names of potential buyers: from Bill Gates, who had expressed interest in the villa in the past, to the Sultan of Brunei. The Reuters news agency went on to cite an unspecified Emir of Qatar as one of the potential buyers. And then, there is the Italian state, which is following the matter closely, spurred by many to support the figure to make the Casino dell’Aurora a public asset. There are those who have proposed using PNRR funds, an impractical route (in fact, they cannot be used for permanent investments, but only for actions aimed at post-pandemic revitalization). A figure around 300 million euros would still be very high for the public coffers. We will see what happens.

Caravaggio, auction for Casino dell'Aurora fails (as everyone predicted)

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