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Villa Ephrussi Rothschild, the aesthetic pleasures of Cap Ferrat…

July 11, 2022 By splendid Leave a Comment

In 1905 Baroness Béatrice de Rothschild acquired seven hectares of land on the narrowest part of the peninsula of San Jean Cap Ferrat to build her dream home, Villa Île~de~France. Today, the villa is called Villa Ephrussi Rothschild and it stands as the epitome of a lavish life in the Belle Epoqe {Beautiful era} overlooking the bay of Villafranche~sur~Mer on one side

Villa Ephrussi Rothschild, Saint Jean Cap Ferrat, Belle Epoque, Villafranche Sur Mer, Italian Renaissance design, Italian Renaissance Mansion, Baroness Béatrice de Rothschild

and the Baie de Fourni and Beaulieu~sur~Mer to the other.

Villa Ephrussi Rothschild, Saint Jean Cap Ferrat, Belle Epoque, Beaulieu Sur Mer, Baroness Béatrice de Rothschild

Madame Ephrussi bought the land in 1905 and it took 7 years to construct this Italian Renaissance inspired mansion and lay out the extensive gardens. To begin, they had to dynamite the existing rock and then bring in soil to smooth the surface and prepare for plantings and foundations.

Villa Ephrussi Rothschild, Saint Jean Cap Ferrat, Belle Epoque, Italian Renaissance design, Italian Renaissance Mansion, Baroness Béatrice de Rothschild

She was very involved in every stage of creating this exquisite mansion and quite selective about who should design it, finally architect Jacque~Marcel Auburtin met her criteria.

Villa Ephrussi Rothschild, Saint Jean Cap Ferrat, Belle Epoque, Italian Renaissance design, Italian Renaissance Mansion, Baroness Béatrice de Rothschild

The villa is surrounded by nine themed gardens: a formal French garden, Spanish garden, Florentine garden, stone garden, Japanese garden, exotic garden, Provençal garden and rose garden. Beatrice was most focused on the formal French garden and some of the gardens were created after she passed.

Villa Ephrussi Rothschild, Saint Jean Cap Ferrat, Belle Epoque, Italian Renaissance design, Italian Renaissance Mansion, formal French garden, grotto, Baroness Béatrice de Rothschild
Villa Ephrussi Rothschild, Saint Jean Cap Ferrat, Belle Epoque, Italian Renaissance design, Italian Renaissance Mansion, formal French gardens, Baroness Béatrice de Rothschild
Villa Ephrussi Rothschild, Saint Jean Cap Ferrat, Belle Epoque, Italian Renaissance design, Italian Renaissance Mansion, white trumpet flower,Baroness Béatrice de Rothschild

“Designing her garden like the bow of a ship, Béatrice de Rothschild had mirrors several centimeters thick installed. at the top of the hill, near Tempietto, in order to reflect the sea and give the illusion that it was floating” ~VER website

Villa Ephrussi Rothschild, Saint Jean Cap Ferrat, Belle Epoque, Italian Renaissance design, Italian Renaissance Mansion, formal French garden, Baroness Béatrice de Rothschild
Villa Ephrussi Rothschild, Saint Jean Cap Ferrat, Belle Epoque, Italian Renaissance design, Italian Renaissance Mansion, formal French garden, Baroness Béatrice de Rothschild
Villa Ephrussi Rothschild, Saint Jean Cap Ferrat, Belle Epoque, Italian Renaissance design, Italian Renaissance Mansion, olive branch

Enticing water features can be found throughout the property. This waterway that leads to the grotto with the white trumpet flowers is my very favorite.

Villa Ephrussi Rothschild, Saint Jean Cap Ferrat, Belle Epoque, Italian Renaissance design, Italian Renaissance Mansion, grotto, white trumpet flowers, Baroness Béatrice de Rothschild
Villa Ephrussi Rothschild, Saint Jean Cap Ferrat, Belle Epoque, Italian Renaissance design, Italian Renaissance Mansion, grotto, white trumpet flowers, Baroness Béatrice de Rothschild
Villa Ephrussi Rothschild, Saint Jean Cap Ferrat, Belle Epoque, Italian Renaissance design, Italian Renaissance Mansion, grotto, fountain, nude sculpture, Baroness Béatrice de Rothschild
Villa Ephrussi Rothschild, Saint Jean Cap Ferrat, Belle Epoque, Italian Renaissance design, Italian Renaissance Mansion, waterlilies
Villa Ephrussi Rothschild, Saint Jean Cap Ferrat, Belle Epoque, Italian Renaissance design, Italian Renaissance Mansion, Baroness Béatrice de Rothschild

Béatrice gifted the gardens to the Academy of Beaux Arts in 1934 in memory of her father Alphonse, who was a member of the Academy.

Villa Ephrussi Rothschild, Saint Jean Cap Ferrat, Belle Epoque, Italian Renaissance design, Italian Renaissance Mansion, formal french furnishings, decorative French walls, Baroness Béatrice de Rothschild, boiserie
Villa Ephrussi Rothschild, Saint Jean Cap Ferrat, Belle Epoque, Italian Renaissance design, Italian Renaissance Mansion, French marble fireplace surround,Baroness Béatrice de Rothschild

In addition to the existing furnishings {which included some important pieces from Versailles that she acquired after the French Revolution} she consolidated her possessions from her Villas Soleil and Rose de France in Monte~Carlo, her hotel at 19 avenue Foch in Paris so the villa includes more that 5,000 works of art and fine furniture.

Villa Ephrussi Rothschild, Saint Jean Cap Ferrat, Belle Epoque, Italian Renaissance design, Italian Renaissance Mansion, enameled french floral sconce, Baroness Béatrice de Rothschild

The villa was opened to the public in 1937. Each room reflects her eclectic tastes, and her passion for fine furnishings and arts.

Villa Ephrussi Rothschild, Saint Jean Cap Ferrat, Belle Epoque, Italian Renaissance design, Italian Renaissance Mansion, grotto, white trumpet flowers, French wood carved bed, wood carved french panels, boiserie

Ever elegant, she liked to dress in 18th century inspired clothing and was known to tie a matching bow in her hair. Her preferred designer was Jacques Prucet who also designed for many of the leading actresses of the era on and off the stage including Sarah Bernhardt.

Villa Ephrussi Rothschild, Saint Jean Cap Ferrat, Belle Epoque, Italian Renaissance design, Italian Renaissance Mansion, painted french wall panels, boiserie
Villa Ephrussi Rothschild, Saint Jean Cap Ferrat, Belle Epoque, Italian Renaissance design, Italian Renaissance Mansion, artifacts
Villa Ephrussi Rothschild, Saint Jean Cap Ferrat, Belle Epoque, Italian Renaissance design, Italian Renaissance Mansion, formal french furnishings, decorative French walls, Baroness Béatrice de Rothschild, boiserie
Villa Ephrussi Rothschild, Saint Jean Cap Ferrat, Belle Epoque, Italian Renaissance design, Italian Renaissance Mansion, formal french furnishings, decorative French walls, Baroness Béatrice de Rothschild, boiserie, gilded french dresser
Villa Ephrussi Rothschild, Saint Jean Cap Ferrat, Belle Epoque, Italian Renaissance design, Italian Renaissance Mansion, formal french furnishings, decorative French walls, Baroness Béatrice de Rothschild, boiserie, gilded french mirror
Villa Ephrussi Rothschild, Saint Jean Cap Ferrat, Belle Epoque, Italian Renaissance design, Italian Renaissance Mansion, formal french furnishings, decorative French walls, Baroness Béatrice de Rothschild, wood carved french mirror
Villa Ephrussi Rothschild, Saint Jean Cap Ferrat, Belle Epoque, Italian Renaissance design, Italian Renaissance Mansion, formal french furnishings, decorative French walls, Baroness Béatrice de Rothschild, boiserie
Villa Ephrussi Rothschild, Saint Jean Cap Ferrat, Belle Epoque, Italian Renaissance design, Italian Renaissance Mansion, formal french furnishings, decorative French walls, Baroness Béatrice de Rothschild, boiserie, painted french bed
Villa Ephrussi Rothschild, Saint Jean Cap Ferrat, Belle Epoque, Italian Renaissance design, Italian Renaissance Mansion, formal french furnishings, decorative French walls, Baroness Béatrice de Rothschild, boiserie, french furnishings,
Villa Ephrussi Rothschild, Saint Jean Cap Ferrat, Belle Epoque, Italian Renaissance design, Italian Renaissance Mansion, formal french furnishings, decorative French walls, Baroness Béatrice de Rothschild, boiserie, french silk settee

Since 1993 the Villa and the gardens have been classified as Historic Monuments.

Villa Ephrussi Rothschild, Saint Jean Cap Ferrat, Belle Epoque, Italian Renaissance design, Italian Renaissance Mansion, formal french furnishings, decorative French walls, Baroness Béatrice de Rothschild, metal wall hanging
Villa Ephrussi Rothschild, Saint Jean Cap Ferrat, Belle Epoque, Italian Renaissance design, Italian Renaissance Mansion, formal french furnishings, decorative French walls, Baroness Béatrice de Rothschild, boiserie, french beds

She was a great supporter of artists and very charitible. She was known for her lavish parties featuring musicians of the era and would at times arrive to the scene in this carriage.

Villa Ephrussi Rothschild, Saint Jean Cap Ferrat, Belle Epoque, Italian Renaissance design, Italian Renaissance Mansion, formal french furnishings, decorative French walls, Baroness Béatrice de Rothschild, french carriage

The collection of porcelain from Meissen, Vincennes and Sèvres is extensive and so beautiful.

Villa Ephrussi Rothschild, Saint Jean Cap Ferrat, Belle Epoque, Italian Renaissance design, Italian Renaissance Mansion, formal french furnishings, decorative French walls, Baroness Béatrice de Rothschild, french porcelain, urquoise French porcelain
Villa Ephrussi Rothschild, Saint Jean Cap Ferrat, Belle Epoque, Italian Renaissance design, Italian Renaissance Mansion, formal french furnishings, decorative French walls, Baroness Béatrice de Rothschild, french porcelain, urquoise French porcelain
Villa Ephrussi Rothschild, Saint Jean Cap Ferrat, Belle Epoque, Italian Renaissance design, Italian Renaissance Mansion, formal french furnishings, decorative French walls, Baroness Béatrice de Rothschild, french porcelain, turquoise French porcelain
Villa Ephrussi Rothschild, Saint Jean Cap Ferrat, Belle Epoque, Italian Renaissance design, Italian Renaissance Mansion, formal french furnishings, decorative French walls, Baroness Béatrice de Rothschild, french porcelain, yellow French porcelain

Filed Under: faraway places Tagged With: Belle Epoque, Cap Ferrat, Italian Renaissance design, Italian Renaissance Mansion, Saint Jean Cap Ferrat, Saint~Jean~Cap~Ferrat, South of France, splendid objects, Splendid roaming, Villa Ephrussi Rothschild

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