Marcantonio Borghese, 5th Prince of Sulmona facts for kids
Marcantonio III Borghese, who lived from 1730 to 1800, was an important leader of the Borghese family in Rome, Italy. He held the title of the 5th Prince of Sulmona. Marcantonio was known for supporting Napoleon Bonaparte. He was also the father of two future princes: Camillo Filippo Ludovico Borghese, who became the 6th Prince of Sulmona, and Francesco, 7th Prince of Sulmona.
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Turning a Villa into a Museum
Marcantonio Borghese had a big project: he wanted to turn his family's beautiful villa in Rome into a public museum. This started around 1775.
Renovating the Villa
He hired a skilled architect named Antonio Asprucci to help. They removed old tapestries and leather decorations. New designs were painted on the ceilings. The main building, called the Casina, was also updated.
Organizing the Art Collection
Marcantonio wanted to show off the amazing Borghese collection of sculptures. He had them rearranged throughout the villa. The new arrangement told a story and showed how important the Borghese family was in Rome. For example, in 1785, he moved Bernini's famous sculpture, Apollo and Daphne, to the very center of its room so everyone could admire it.
Designing the Gardens
Marcantonio also made big changes to the Borghese gardens around the villa. Before, the gardens were very formal, with straight lines and perfectly shaped plants. He changed them into an English landscape garden. This style of garden looks more natural, with winding paths, open grassy areas, and trees planted to look like a natural landscape.
