Henrietta Tower (Henriette, Enrichetta) (26 October 1856 – 3 April 1933) was born in Pottsville, Pennsylvania.[1] While living in Rome, she and her husband, George Washington Wurts, created an art collection containing approximately 3,000 works[2] that was donated on her death in 1933 to Benito Mussolini. The art collection remains in Rome, and their villa and gardens are open to the public.
Henrietta Tower was the sixth of seven children of Charlemagne Tower,[3] a lawyer, businessman, and graduate of Harvard University. On her father’s death in 1889, Tower inherited a vast fortune from his business ventures which included a coal mining operation in Pennsylvania and an iron production plant in Minnesota. This inheritance made her one of the wealthiest women in the United States at that time.[2]
Life in Rome and art collectionedit
Villa Sciarra in Rome
Tower married George Washington Wurts in 1898. In 1902 the couple moved to Rome and bought a villa, known as the Villa Sciarra-Wurts, which they spent the rest of their lives renovating and decorating with a variety of art works. They frequently entertained the wealthy, ambassadors, and aristocratic members of society. After her husband’s death in 1928 Tower gave their villa to the city of Rome on the condition that the vast garden be turned into a public park and cultural center in honor of the German poet, Johann Wolfgang von Goethe. (Included with this was a gift of $50,000 to maintain the property.)[2] The park so dedicated was opened in 1932 and a year later, in 1933, Tower died in Lucerne, Switzerland and is buried in the Protestant cemetery in Rome.[1]
Through her will Tower bequeathed the vast art collection that she and her husband had expanded over several decades to Benito Mussolini, on the condition that it be kept in a museum. The collection was given to Rome's Museo nazionale del Palazzo di Venezia where it has remained since (although several works remain in the Villa Sciarra-Wurts). Included in the collection are over 3,000 items including: ceramics, textiles, tapestries, paintings (including works by Ottaviano Nelli, Vincenzo Pagani, John Russell, Paolo Veneziano, and Michael Wolgemut), about 80 wooden sculptures,[4] various works from China and Japan, and a significant number of works from Russia including 33 late 19th-century women's hats.[2]
Tower’s will also established The Henrietta Tower Wurts Foundation in Philadelphia which in addition to funding Meals on Wheels also provides small grants to “organizations serving disadvantaged children and youth and/or the elderly”.[5]
Referencesedit
^ abMarquardt, Catherine. "Pottsville heiress Henrietta Tower Wurts was philanthropist, friend of Mussolini". Republican-Herald. Retrieved 2017-03-15.
^ abcdFachechi, Grazia Maria (2004). "George Washington Wurts, Henriette Tower, una collezione "di curiosità e opere d'arte" e una villa "magnificent, the handsomest ever bestowed on Rome"". Riflessi del Collezionismo Tra Bilanci Critici e Nuovi Contributi. Reflections On/Of Art Collecting, Between Critical Assessments and New Contribution (in Italian).
^Bridges, Hal (1952). Iron Millionaire: Life of Charlemagne Tower. Philadelphia, Pennsylvania: University of Pennsylvania Press. pp. 59–60. ISBN978-1512814767. Retrieved 2024-03-13.
henrietta, tower, henriette, enrichetta, october, 1856, april, 1933, born, pottsville, pennsylvania, while, living, rome, husband, george, washington, wurts, created, collection, containing, approximately, works, that, donated, death, 1933, benito, mussolini, . Henrietta Tower Henriette Enrichetta 26 October 1856 3 April 1933 was born in Pottsville Pennsylvania 1 While living in Rome she and her husband George Washington Wurts created an art collection containing approximately 3 000 works 2 that was donated on her death in 1933 to Benito Mussolini The art collection remains in Rome and their villa and gardens are open to the public Contents 1 Early life 2 Life in Rome and art collection 3 References 4 External links 5 See alsoEarly life editHenrietta Tower was the sixth of seven children of Charlemagne Tower 3 a lawyer businessman and graduate of Harvard University On her father s death in 1889 Tower inherited a vast fortune from his business ventures which included a coal mining operation in Pennsylvania and an iron production plant in Minnesota This inheritance made her one of the wealthiest women in the United States at that time 2 Life in Rome and art collection edit nbsp Villa Sciarra in Rome Tower married George Washington Wurts in 1898 In 1902 the couple moved to Rome and bought a villa known as the Villa Sciarra Wurts which they spent the rest of their lives renovating and decorating with a variety of art works They frequently entertained the wealthy ambassadors and aristocratic members of society After her husband s death in 1928 Tower gave their villa to the city of Rome on the condition that the vast garden be turned into a public park and cultural center in honor of the German poet Johann Wolfgang von Goethe Included with this was a gift of 50 000 to maintain the property 2 The park so dedicated was opened in 1932 and a year later in 1933 Tower died in Lucerne Switzerland and is buried in the Protestant cemetery in Rome 1 Through her will Tower bequeathed the vast art collection that she and her husband had expanded over several decades to Benito Mussolini on the condition that it be kept in a museum The collection was given to Rome s Museo nazionale del Palazzo di Venezia where it has remained since although several works remain in the Villa Sciarra Wurts Included in the collection are over 3 000 items including ceramics textiles tapestries paintings including works by Ottaviano Nelli Vincenzo Pagani John Russell Paolo Veneziano and Michael Wolgemut about 80 wooden sculptures 4 various works from China and Japan and a significant number of works from Russia including 33 late 19th century women s hats 2 Tower s will also established The Henrietta Tower Wurts Foundation in Philadelphia which in addition to funding Meals on Wheels also provides small grants to organizations serving disadvantaged children and youth and or the elderly 5 References edit a b Marquardt Catherine Pottsville heiress Henrietta Tower Wurts was philanthropist friend of Mussolini Republican Herald Retrieved 2017 03 15 a b c d Fachechi Grazia Maria 2004 George Washington Wurts Henriette Tower una collezione di curiosita e opere d arte e una villa magnificent the handsomest ever bestowed on Rome Riflessi del Collezionismo Tra Bilanci Critici e Nuovi Contributi Reflections On Of Art Collecting Between Critical Assessments and New Contribution in Italian Bridges Hal 1952 Iron Millionaire Life of Charlemagne Tower Philadelphia Pennsylvania University of Pennsylvania Press pp 59 60 ISBN 978 1512814767 Retrieved 2024 03 13 Wood Sculptures museopalazzovenezia beniculturali it 2011 12 20 Retrieved 2017 03 16 Foundation The Philadelphia Henrietta Tower Wurts grants at The Philadelphia Foundation www philafound org Retrieved 2017 03 15 External links editOfficial site Museo Nazionale Piazza Venezia Official site Henrietta Tower Wurts Foundation Archived 2017 03 16 at the Wayback MachineSee also editCharlemagne Tower Jr Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Henrietta Tower amp oldid 1217194543, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
