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The Torlonia saga began with a young draper from Auvergne, Puy de Dôme. He left France under the name of Marin Tourlonias to settle in Italy and become a pawn- broker under the name of Marino Torlonia.
His son Giovanni continued his father’s work by lending money to the Roman nobi- lity. This wise banker had the Pope and the Bonaparte family as famous clients.
He was thus able to buy titles, marquis, duke then prince as well as properties and works of art to furnish his domains. A grandiose collector, he put together this fabu- lous collection of 600 antique statues, 60 of which are on display today in Paris.
Throughout the 19th century, the Torlonia princes kept the largest private collection of ancient Roman sculpture in Rome.
This unique collection of its kind is revealed at the Louvre for its first stay outside Italy.
These marvels of sculptures take place in the restored setting offered by the summer apartments of Anne of Austria which extend into the so-called Augustus room, home of the permanent collections of ancient sculpture since the end of the 18th century and the birth of the Louvre Museum.
Hestia Giustiniani
2nd century AD Based on Greek original from 470-460 BC. Torlonia Collection ©Fondazione Torlonia