The 1596 façade of the church of Santa Susanna introduced a dynamic rhythm of columns and pilasters to Rome, marking a departure from Mannerist conventions. Designed by Carlo Maderno, this project established the aesthetic trajectory for his career, positioning him as a primary contributor to the emergence of the Baroque architectural movement during the seventeenth century.
Early Career and Relocation
Born in 1556 in Capolago, then a bailiwick of the Swiss Confederacy, Maderno began his professional life in the northern marble quarries. In 1588, he moved to Rome alongside four of his brothers to assist his uncle, the architect Domenico Fontana. His initial roles involved stone cutting, a background that influenced his later focus on sculptural detailing and the tactile qualities of architectural surfaces.
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Appointed chief architect of St. Peter’s Basilica by Pope Paul V, Maderno oversaw the transition of the structure from a Greek cross plan to a Latin cross. He completed the façade in 1612, which included a balcony designed for Papal blessings. In addition to his work at the Vatican, he contributed to the Quirinal Palace and the Papal Palace of Castel Gandolfo, and directed construction at San Giovanni dei Fiorentini.
Ecclesiastical and Secular Designs
His ecclesiastical work includes the design and interior layout of Santa Maria della Vittoria and the church of Sant’Andrea della Valle, where he executed the third-largest dome in Rome. He also designed the Palazzo Mattei and the Palazzo Barberini for Pope Urban VIII. Further projects ranged from the chapel of St. Lawrence in San Paolo fuori le Mura to fortifications in Ferrara.
Final Contributions and Legacy
One of his final projects at St. Peter’s involved the creation of the Confessio, a crypt-like space located beneath the dome near the tomb of Saint Peter. Adorned with 95 bronze lamps, it remains a site of significant architectural detail. Maderno died in Rome on 31 January 1629 at age 73 and was interred at the Basilica of San Giovanni dei Fiorentini.
Fast facts
- Born: 1556, Capolago
- Died: 31 January 1629, Rome
- Citizenship: Switzerland
- Fields of work: Baroque architecture
- Notable work: Santa Susanna
- Burial place: Basilica of San Giovanni dei Fiorentini
- Award: Order of the Golden Spur
Questions readers ask
What is the primary architectural significance of Santa Susanna?
It is recognized as one of the first Baroque façades to break with Mannerist conventions by employing a complex, dynamic arrangement of columns and pilasters.
Did Carlo Maderno design the entirety of the Palazzo Barberini?
He worked on the palace for Pope Urban VIII, though his work is frequently noted alongside details later added by Bernini and Borromini.
Achievements
- Notable work: Palazzo Barberini
- Notable work: Santa Susanna
- Worked as architect
