RAINALDI, Carlo
(b. 1611, Roma, d. 1691, Roma)

Façade of Santa Maria in Campitelli

1658
Drawing
Archivio di S. Maria in Campitelli, Rome

The drawing is an early project for the façade of the Roman church of Santa Maria in Campitelli. This design had little in common with the present building: a dominant dome was to rise above a concave façade framed by powerful projecting piers. Since this scheme was much too ambitious, Rainaldi next designed a two-storeyed façade behind which the dome, considerably reduced in size, was to disappear.