Villa Aurora in Rome is up for auction. Inside this opulent mansion is a fresco by the Italian artist Michelangelo Merisi, better known as Caravaggio.

This is the only fresco known by the Baroque painter, as the art historian Claudio Strinati says:

“This work is unique because it is a mural by Caravaggio, who did not make any other mural paintings. All his works are on canvas. It is a mythological theme, and this is also somewhat unique or almost, because it represents the three presiding Greek deities to the sky, to the sea, and to the earth, namely Jupiter, Neptune, and Pluto”.

Caravaggio’s masterpiece was commissioned in 1597 by Cardinal Francesco Maria Del Monte and is valued at 310 million euros.

The Villa Aurora auction is the culmination of a feud between the heirs of the Ludovisi family. The public sale is scheduled for January 18 and the initial offer is for 471 million euros.

Source: Euronews