Mario Praz's House Museum in Rome: A Time Capsule of Eclecticism
The Casa-Museo Mario Praz in Rome, a treasure trove of over 1,200 objects from neoclassical to 19th-century styles, opened to the public in 1995. Owned by the MiBACT and formerly a satellite museum of the Galleria Nazionale, it offers an immersive experience into the intellectual world of Mario Praz, an Anglophile and international critic who lived there until his death in 1982. The house reflects his studies in London (1923) and teaching in Liverpool and London, blending craftsmanship and savoir-vivre. Anecdotes include his neighbor Mario Schifano, a psychedelic artist living upstairs in the 1970s, with whom Praz had a humorous dispute over condo fees. The museum features fresh flowers, open books, and extensive libraries, embodying Praz's travels and cultural peregrinations.
Key facts
- Casa-Museo Mario Praz is located in Rome.
- Mario Praz lived in the house until his death in 1982.
- The museum opened to the public in 1995.
- It is owned by the MiBACT (Italian Ministry of Cultural Heritage).
- It was formerly a satellite museum of the Galleria Nazionale.
- The collection includes over 1,200 objects.
- Styles range from neoclassical (late 18th century) to 19th-century.
- Mario Praz studied in London in 1923 with a scholarship and worked at the British Museum.
- He taught in Liverpool and London.
- Neighbor Mario Schifano lived upstairs in the 1970s.
- The house features multiple salons for public life.
- Praz was an Anglophile and international critic.
Entities
Artists
- Mario Praz
- Mario Schifano
Institutions
- MiBACT
- Galleria Nazionale
- British Museum
Locations
- Rome
- Italy
- London
- United Kingdom
- Liverpool