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.
                                                                                     

 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.

                                                                  

 This "house" was the absolute favourite of Versace, like a sanctuary, a Proustian space where he could relax and contemplate the beauty surrounding him.

                                                                      

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. 

                                                                       

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


Renaissance and especially neoclassical taste                                                                   

Another piece of recent history and another collection dispersed soon.

                                               End of an era of hedonism?