Marguerite Caetani

Born into a wealthy and cultured New England family, but orphaned by her parents at a young age, she went to Paris in 1902 to study singing with the tenor Jean de Reszke. In 1911 she met and married the composer Roffredo Caetani (1871-1961), prince of Bassiano and last duke of Sermoneta. The couple settled in the villa Romaine in Versailles, and had two children: Lelia (1913-1977)[1] and Camillo (1915-1940).

In Paris, the Caetanis frequented the artistic and literary world and were friends with Paul Valéry, Saint-John Perse, Valery Larbaud, Leon-Paul Fargue, and Adrienne Monnier. In 1924 Marguerite Caetani founded the literary journal Commerce, which was published until 1932. With articles in three languages (French, Italian and English), Commerce published poets and writers already famous (such as James Joyce), but also younger artists, allowing them to make their works known.

In 1932 the Caetanis returned to Italy and settled in the castle of Sermoneta.

The Palazzo Mattei Caetani, on via Botteghe Oscure in Rome

After the Second World War and the death of her son Camillo, which took place on 15 December 1940 on the Albanian front, the family settled in the Roman residence of Palazzo Mattei Caetani in Via delle Botteghe Oscure. Here, in 1948, Marguerite Caetani founded a new journal, Botteghe Oscure, partly similar to Commerce, but now in five languages: English, French, Italian , German and Spanish. With the help of Giorgio Bassani, Botteghe Oscure published some of the most important works of poetry and prose of the time. In 1950 Princess Caetani published an anthology in English of the writers who had contributed to the journal: An Anthology of New Italian Writers (printed in Rome, but distributed by New Directions). Botteghe Oscure ceased publishing in 1960, due to financial difficulties. Princess Caetani then retired to Ninfa, where she died three years later.[2]

Rosa roxburghii

Marguerite Chapin, was also a garden enthusiast, introduced many hundreds of plants to the Garden of Ninfa, most of which were bought from English Nurseries. From 1949-1990 Hillier & Sons was the main supplier for the Caetanis. At her first visit to the nursery, Marguerite ordered 128 rose cultivars. Plantings have continued and there are now some 200 roses at Ninfa. Many of these are unusual, such as the double pink form of Rosa roxburghii (1825)—which is called the 'Chestnut Rose', Rosa Crépuscule with fabulous scented coppery flowers.[3]