Borromini and Pietro da Cortona

Question 1

Answer 1

Oratory Complex (Oratorio dei Filippini) – S Maria in Vallicella/Chiesa Nuova
Date: 1575-1605

Architect: Borromini (+2 others) he did masterplan

Location: Rome

• Complex created a superblock. Old blocks given special permission to combine for purpose of religious building complex. Changed the fabric of the city.
• Turns its back to the papal route (originally didn’t own property facing papal route)
• Façade on corner facing Papal route
• 5 lateral bays (diff from other churches), include both side aisles and side chapels (result of expansion)
• Frescoes by Pietro da Cortona
• Ceiling – Virgin Mary, floating from the apse, composition complete with the dome. Possible because drumbless dome allows for more vantage points.

Question 2

Answer 2

Oratory Complex (Oratorio dei Filippini) – Façade and Chapel

Date: 1637-50

Architect: Borromini

Location: Rome

• Oratory Façade made out of brick to appear secondary to church
• Designed as public entrance for other types of devotion
• 2-tiered taking cues from church façade
• Large pilasters, alternation of convex and concave curves, with straight edge bays
• Adjustments to create greater sense of depth
• Chapel, wall pilasters rise up to ribs in the done, vertical gesture. Fake windows to create symmetry at exterior in courtyard.

Question 3

Answer 3

Oratory Complex (Oratorio dei Filippini) - Library

Date: 1643

Architect: Borromini

Location: Rome

• Hidden stairs in corners to access upper level
• 2 phases, first aligned with formal part of façade, but didn’t work structurally, lengthened to align above chapel below. Had to adjust ceiling pattern to maintain idea of symmetry.
• One of 3 great libraries in Rome

Question 4

Answer 4

Oratory Complex (Oratorio dei Filippini) – Sacristy

Date: 1637-50

Architect: Borromini

Location: Rome

• Elaborate cabinetry and art, not complex architecture
• Earliest of Crotona’s Frescoes: Angles holding symbols of the passion of Christ.
• Features Algardi’s sculpture of Neri

Question 5

Answer 5

Sant’Ivo

Date: 1642-60

Architect: Borromini (church)

Location: Rome

• Headquarters for the University of Rome.
• Courtyard built first, left space for church
• Lower curving façade pre baroque, before Borromini
• Dome rises vertically, interior curve hidden from exterior by vertical gesture.
• Plan: complex form, double triangle/hexagon form.
• Pilasters on walls, sets of three (common theme), alternating straight-convex-straight-concave curves.
• Dome – decorated with ribs and 6&8 pointed stars.
• Materiality: neutral color, trend of Borromini, complex architecture, white plaster finish
• Spiraling lantern, crown of flames and floating sphere at the top.

Question 6

Answer 6

Santa Maria della Pace

Date: 1482 (built originally) and 1656-67

Architect: Pietra da Cortona (building) Bramante (courtyard)

Location: Rome

• 1656-57 Baroque façade end edifice added
• Façade like semi-circle portico with Doric columns. Symmetrical, but left side access to courtyard, right side opening to public street. Surrounding context informs symmetry.
• Short entry with chapels leading to octagonal plan church. Decoration to unify entrance.
• Crotona never did both architecture and art in a building.
• Dome: decorated with both ribs and coffering, following Bernini’s earlier examples.
• Cloister/courtyard by Bramante: 1st urban work, 4 bay square plan, ok because it is entered from a side not the center. Pilasters eaten by corner piers.