In the 1970’s the Torlonia family got into a spat with the city government of Rome over the conversion of a family palace into apartment blocks. In response to Rome’s refusal to allow the project to go forward, the family placed in storage it’s huge collection of ancient marbles and bronzes where they remained for over 40 years. But a deal had finally been reached which will see the art collection go back on display. Among the priceless antiquities are sculptures from Greek masters such as Phidias, the man who crafted one of the seven wonders of the ancient world in addition to the famed Parthenon frieze. Also of note is a true to life bust of the Roman Emperor Galba, the star-crossed successor to Nero who was the first part of the legendary year of the four emperors in 69CE, that is considered the finest marble of emperor to survive. Not that it is needed, but this is one more reason to visit the eternal city to explore it’s vast assemblage of art from the ancient world all the way up to the modern era.
See Umberto Bacchi, Italy: Priceless trove of 600 Roman statues lay hidden in basement for 40 years, International Business, March 17, 2016.
Special thanks to Brian Cohan (Attorney at Law, Law Offices of Brian J. Cohan, P.C.) for bringing this article to my attention.
