MICHETTI, Nicola
(b. 1675, Venezia, d. 1758, Roma)

Biography

Italian architect, pupil and collaborator of Carlo Fontana. He worked for years in Rome under Carlo Fontana, including as a foreman (Capomaestro) in the reconstruction of the Basilica of Santi Apostoli. Nicola independently submitted a proposal for the Trevi Fountain (1704), however, the winning commission went to Salvi. Nicola performed smaller architectural projects in Rome and built an 18th century housing project for the Congregazione degli Illvici, in the former Schiavonia quarter of Rome.

Between 1718 and 1723, Michetti moved to Russia, and became employed by Tsar Peter the Great as court architect. His main work of these years is the garden and the cascading fountain of the Peterhof Palace near St. Petersburg. He made designs for the Kadriorg Palace in Tallinn and the Constantine Palace in Strelna. His plan for a monumental lighthouse on the Black Sea was never executed. Many of his designs from the Russian era are now in the Hermitage Museum.

Returning to Rome, he worked on important commissions including the renovation of Palazzo Colonna (1731-1735). Michetti also made numerous designs for temporary architecture, especially for theatre sets and fireworks displays.