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Villa BorgheseThis noble villa was once the private residence of Cardinal Scipione Borghese. It was designed in 1695 by the personal architect of Pope Paulus V: Flaminio Ponzio, who planned a sort of Roman country residence, with wings projecting to the surrounding gardens. Scipione used the villa to entertain his guests and preserve a marvellous collection of paintings and sculptures. Unfortunately between 1801 and 1809 Paolina Bonaparte's husband, Camillo Borghese, sold part of the collection to Napoleon Bonaparte, and many paintings are now on display at the Louvre Museum in Paris. However the cardinal distinguished himself to be a notable connoisseur of arts, as proved by the numerous oeuvres commissioned to a very young Bernini, which might be considered the most appreciated ones of the whole sculptor's production. The eight rooms on the ground floor segment around the main hall. Apollo and Daphne (baroque, life-sized marble outstanding sculpture made in 1624) is definitely the most famous one: it represents the beautiful nymph Daphne while turning into a laurel tree to escape Apollo's longing. Her feet turn roots, her fingers buds, and a rough bark wraps the smooth skin. A similar theme is findable into The Rape of Proserpina (1621), housed in the room number 4. The sculpture represents Pluto while grasping the goddess Proserpina, against her will. The contrast between his virile musculature and Proserpina's soft skin, shows once again all the sculptor's mastery. The third important masterpiece is David (1623), exhibited in the room number 2. The artist wanted to catch the high tension implied in the deed to throw the stone and kill Goliath. According to the legend, Pope Urban VIII hanged a mirror on the wall in front of the artist to be represented with the hero's features. The following room homes the most criticized Canova's oeuvre, Venus Victrix, lovely sculpture representing Paolina Bonaparte Borghese. The princess' pose (lying half-naked on a triclinium) was so scandalous at that time that the prince hid the sculpture from the artist himself! The following room houses a beautiful antiquities collection with a marvellous copy of a Bacchus statue, made by the Greek Praxitelis in the IV century BC and remains of precious mosaics dated back to the III century AC, found into an ancient Borghese's property in Torrenova (in Sicily), representing gladiators beating wild beasts. The Borghese Gallery, located onto the upper floor, exhibits outstanding Renaissance and baroque oeuvres, part of the private family collection. You will never forget unique masterpieces like the Deposition, by Raffaello; many Caravaggio's works of art; the graceful Danae (XVI century), by Correggio; Sacred and Profane Love, by Titian (1514), as well as works made by Pinturicchio, Rubens, Guido Reni and Annibale Carracci. Rome opens this incredible world of artistic marvels from 9 am to 7.30 pm, Tuesday to Sunday. Saturday and Sunday booking required.
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