Baron Alberto de Blanc commissioned Villa Blanc between 1895 and 1898, following his appointment as Minister of Foreign Affairs in the Crispi government. A man of great culture and international outlook, de Blanc is credited with completing a project that remains unique in the realm of Roman architectural and decorative culture.

Villa Blanc is, in fact, a notable example of “eclectic” art—quite a rare instance of elements and styles from vastly different eras and cultures blending and coming together in harmony.

Every detail of the Villa reveals its eclecticism, starting with the layout of the spaces and the architecture in general. This is evident in the Fireplace Room, which reveals 15th-century influences; the outdoor loggia, featuring neoclassical statues and caryatids along with Art Nouveau decorations; the Neo-Gothic tower; the Ballroom, with its Middle Eastern-inspired ceiling; and the Winter Garden, with its iron and glass structures.

Numerous artists and professionals were involved, including archaeologist and architect Giacomo Boni, botanist Pietro Pirotta (founder of the Botanical Garden of Rome), decorators Morani and De Carolis (who drew inspiration from the work of William Morris), and painters Cellini and Vitelleschi.

Eclecticism is also evident in the techniques and materials used: from the combination of iron, concrete, glass, brick, travertine, and inlaid wood to the historicist revival elements in the decorations, such as the use of glazed ceramic tiles for the exterior walls. In 1997, Luiss acquired what remained of the complex. The Villa had been in a state of disrepair and neglect for about 60 years. The Villa is currently home to the Luiss Business School.