Tuesday, March 17, 2009

The end to an era of excess?

The late Gianni Versace's "Villa Fontanelle" in Moltrasio, on Como Lake, was recently acquired by a Russian magnate for about 35 million euros.
                                                                                      03_b_versace

 The new owner wants to keep only a few pieces of furniture and art for himself so unfortunately the majority of the furnishing and the precious collection will go under the hammer at Sotheby's in London on March 18th, 2009. After Yves Saint Laurent's... another big auction. 550 pieces in a faithfully reconstructed space, even with walls decorated like in the original villa.

                                                                   06_b_versace

 This "house" was the absolute favourite of Versace, like a sanctuary, a Proustian space where he could relax and contemplate the beauty surrounding him.
                                                                       04_b_versace
He also loved to spend time here with friends like Elton John, Naomi Campbell, Madonna, Jennifer Lopez (who celebrated her wedding at the villa).
In Milan he owned (now his sister, Donatella, lives there) a XVIII building in the historical center of the city, then other luxurious residences in New York and Miami, where he was murdered 10 years ago. 

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Passion for ancient Rome,
 extravagant luxury,
 exhibition of wealth.                                                                     02_b_versace


Renaissance and especially neoclassical taste                                                                    01_b_versace
Another piece of recent history and another collection dispersed soon.
                                               End of an era of hedonism?

4 comments:

MEADE DESIGN GROUP said...

Those interiors are so over the top, but beautify accomplished.

I have always seen in Versace's homes a hungry for wealth. I guess he grew up in a very humble environment.

Maria Killam said...

I just love those space. So over the top and fabulous. *sigh* that's on my next list of goals (to stay in that kind of house in Europe).

Albarosa, we need to figure out how to update your blog on my list so I don't get this far behind :)

Healing Naturaly said...

This is a wonderful post that I had missed, its a real petty that most of the furniture is going to be sold

Healing Naturaly said...

This is a wonderful post that I had missed, its a real petty that most of the furniture is going to be sold

 
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