Rita Jenrette — remember that name? Some 30 years ago, her ex-husband, Rep. John Jenrette, was convicted in the Abscam scandal, and she became an instant celebrity by giving an interview to and posing for Playboy.
Now she’s done something that will no doubt get less press, but which is much more worthy of attention, at least in the art world.
Last year, Jenrette married Prince Nicolò Boncompagni Ludovisi and became a princess (going by the name Princess Rita Boncompagni Ludovisi). And she has persuaded her publicity-shy husband to open the famed Villa Aurora in Rome to visitors.
The villa, built in 1570 and expanded in 1858, contains the “Aurora” ceiling fresco by Guercino (above), as well as Caravaggio’s only known ceiling (below), of Jupiter, Neptune and Pluto, among many other works of art. Jenrette has studied up and often gives the tour commentary herself, according to the International Herald Tribune, which has written a real estate article on the home.
The villa and the artworks inside it, however, seem to be in dire need of help. According to the article:
The years have taken a toll on the villa, with water damage to the frescoes, and to the ancient statues in the garden, some of which date to 500 BC. After years of negotiation with the Italian government, which has designated the house a national treasure, a €10 million restoration finally began last year.
It took 14 months to lay a new roof and to repair and repaint the exterior, returning the pumpkin-colored villa to its original color of cream with a hint of pink.
The extent of the interior damage is still to be determined, but at least two more years’ work is expected. A second Guercino ceiling, “La Fama,” is riven with cracks caused by water damage. And chipped plaster throughout the house offers colorful peeks at old frescoes long since covered over. Samples are going to be taken to determine if any of the hidden works are worth restoring.
So, this house has much more to offer art-lovers, it seems — not to mention art historians.
Here’s a link to the article, which has a slide show and more details on the Villa Aurora.