Domenico Fontana

Domenico Fontana (* 1543 in Melide, † June 28, 1607 in Naples) was a player in Italy architect, painter and sculptor of the late Renaissance Mannerism in from what is now Canton Ticino ( Switzerland ).

Life

Fontana came to Rome in 1563 to study architecture. In 1576 he built for Cardinal Alessandro Sforza di Santa Fiora in Castell'Azzara the Villa Sforza. He earned the confidence of Cardinal Montalto, later Pope Sixtus V, who commissioned him in 1584 with the construction of the Cappella del Presepio in Santa Maria Maggiore. For Montalto he also erected the Palazzo Montalto and was after the election of Montalto Pope architect of St. Peter's Basilica. In this role, he set the lantern on the dome of St. Peter 's Basilica. From this time also some changes to the Lateran come. He built the porch of the north transept, which is adapted from the stage structure of the ancient theater.

Among the best known services is one of Fontana's 1586 first the resignation and then later the erection of the obelisk in St. Peter's Square. Fontana was here as a winner emerged from a competition at which about 500 architects and engineers were involved. It is worth noting was the engineering-based approach Fontana, about which he says " Papa Sisto V Della trasportatione dell'Obelisco Vaticano et delle Fabriche di Nostro Signore " (Rome, 1590) in his book. As a result, he also erected the obelisk in Piazza del Popolo, Piazza di Santa Maria Maggiore and the Piazza di San Giovanni in Laterano.

Among his major works in Rome:

  • Villa Peretti ( 1570)
  • Completion of San Louis of the French ( 1589 )
  • Fontana Acqua Felice ( 1587 )
  • Lateran Palace with Bene Diktions loggia
  • Scala Santa at the Lateran (1586-1588)
  • The papal palaces in the Vatican ( 1587 )

After the death of his patron Pope Sixtus V, he worked until 1592 in the service of the successor of Clement VIII. According to allegations of embezzlement of public funds and his release Fontana went to Naples. There he built include Palazzo Reale. In 1592 he discovered in canal construction inscriptions, but for which nobody was interested. 150 years later it turned out that Fontana Pompeii had discovered.

Gallery

Lateran: benediction loggia

Lateran Palace in the left background is the Scala Santa to see

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