Giacomo della Porta

Giacomo della Porta (1533–1602) was an Italian architect and sculptor. Most likely born in Genoa or Porlezza, Italy, his work was inspired by famous Renaissance artists such as Michelangelo and Giacomo Barozzi da Vignola.

Biography

Early life Giacomo della Porta was born into a family of sculptors in 1533 in Genoa or Porlezza, Italy. Between 1560 and 1561, he completed his first architectural work, the portal of the Vigna Grimani on the Quirinale. His architectural style, rooted in functionality, drew influence from Michelangelo's Mannerism and Giacomo Barozzi da Vignola's Classicism. These plans were later received by the congregation at the confraternity meeting. In May 1601, Giacomo directed the rebuilding program of the Villa Aldobrandini, a villa commissioned by the Cardinal Pietro Aldobradini (r. 1604–1629) as his personal residence. Between 1597 and 1601, Della Porta renovated the transept in the Basilica of San Giovanni in Laterano (Archbasilica of Saint John Lateran).

Basilica of Santa Maria Maggorie

The project for the Basilica of Santa Maria Maggorie began in 1562, however, Della Porta's involvement happened near the end of the construction, roughly around 1573. One such project was Michelangelo's dome, mentioned above. They made a noticeable change in the bend curvature of Michelangelo's projected design, building the dome steeper, similar to the Brunelleschi model. Not only that, but they also inserted a series of chains in the masonry (especially in the upper part of the dome) to hold the transverse forces pushed by the vault, they used high-quality materials, hinging travertine plates with molten lead; features, which allowed the dome not to bear any serious damage after the earthquake of 1703.

Giacomo della Porta completed a number of Rome's fountains from the 16th century; these included the fountains in the Piazza del Popolo, the Fountain of Neptune, Rome and La Fontana del Moro in the Piazza Navona and Fontana delle Tartarughe very important for the Roman legends.

Death He died suddenly in 1602 coming back to Rome from Frascati, where he was working on the Villa Aldobrandini commissioned by the Aldobrandini family.

Selected works Palazzetto Inside Palazzo Albertoni Spinola Perspective (1600) Oratorio del SS. Crocifisso (1562–1568) Fountains at the Palazzo Borghese (1573) Fountains in Piazza Colonna (1574) Small fountains at Piazza Navona (1574) One fountain at the Piazza della Rotonda Palazzo della Sapienza (1578–1602) Palazzo Capizucchi (1580) Santa Maria dei Monti (1580) Sant'Atanasio dei Greci (1581) Façade of San Luigi dei Francesi (1589) Fontana delle Tartarughe (1584) Santa Maria Scala Coeli Palazzo Marescotti (1585) Palazzo Serlupi (1585) SS. Trinità de' Monti (1586) Fontana di Piazza alli Monti (1589) Fountains at the Piazza di Santa Maria in Campitelli (1589) Fontana di Piazza d'Aracoeli (1589) Fontana della Terrina (1590) Sculpture Christ delivering the keys of Heaven to St. Peter (1594), altar of the St. Peter chapel, church Santa Pudenziana Palazzo Fani (1598) San Paolo alle Tre Fontane (1599) San Nicolò in Carcere (1599) Palazzo Albertoni Spinola (1600) Cappella Aldobrandini (1600–02) in Santa Maria sopra Minerva