Borromini, Francesco
Borromini, Francesco
Architect and sculptor; born 25 September, 1599, at Bissone; died (by his own hand) 1 August, 1667, at Rome. He studied architecture under Carlo Maderna, a relative. On the death of Maderna, he was nominated as architect of St. Peter’s, under the direction of Bernini. His most extravagant effort was the church of San Carlo alle Quattro Fontane (1640-67), a good example of the fully developed baroque style in Rome. In the church and part of the College of Propaganda, Borromini’s fancies are wildest; the cupola and campanile of Sant’ Andrea delle Fratte are in better taste. The great nave of Saint John Lateran was modernized, as it now stands, by Borromini. His best work is the façade of Santa Agnese in the Piazza Navona. Borromini is generally considered the father of all modern abuses in architecture. He inverted the whole system of Greek and Roman architecture, without offering a substitute.
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THOMAS H. POOLE
The Catholic Encyclopedia, Volume IICopyright © 1907 by Robert Appleton CompanyOnline Edition Copyright © 2003 by K. KnightImprimatur. +John M. Farley, Archbishop of New York
Fuente: Catholic Encyclopedia
Borromini, Francesco
an eminent Italian architect, was born at Bissone, in the diocese of Como, in 1599. At the age of sixteen he visited Rome and studied architecture under his relative, Carlo Maderno. He copied the designs of the latter, and sculptured the cherubim at the sides of the small doors of St. Peter’s, with the baskets and festoons above the arches, which are the only sculptures he ever executed. On the death of his instructor he was appointed architect of St. Peter’s, under the direction of Bernini. He executed the faeade of the Church of St. Agnes in the Piazza Nuova, which is considered his best performance, and gained him so much reputation that the king of Spain appointed him to enlarge and modernize his palace at Rome. He was also employed in the Barberini palace; erected the church and monasteries of the Madonna de Strada Giulia; erected the palace of Rufina at Frascati. and embellished the Spada palace. He died at Rome in 1667. See Spooner, Biog. Hist. of the Fine Arts, s.v.; Chalmers, Biog. Dict. s.v.; Hoefer, Nouv. Biog. Generale, s.v.