The Genius in the Design: Bernini Borromini and the Rivalry That Transformed Rome

About this book

The rivalry between the brilliant seventeenth-century Italian architects Gianlorenzo Bernini and Francesco Borromini is the stuff of legend. Possessed of enormous talent and ambition these two artists -- one trained as a sculptor the other as a stonecutter -- met as contemporaries in the building yards of St. Peters in Rome and ended their lives as bitter enemies. Over the course of their careers they became the most celebrated architects of their era designing some of the most beautiful buildings in the world and transforming the city of Rome. The Genius in the Design is an extraordinary tale of how these two men plotted schemed and intrigued to get the better of each other. Full of dramatic tension and great insight into personalities acclaimed writer Jake Morrisseys engrossing and impeccably researched account also shows that this legendary rivalry defined the Baroque style that immediately succeeded the Renaissance and created the spectacular Roman cityscape of today. Almost exactly the same age -- Bernini was born at the end of 1598 Borromini nine months later -- they were as alike and as different as any two men could be each a potent combination of passion and enterprise energy and imperfection. Bernini was a precocious talent who as a youth caught the attention of Pope Paul V and became Romes most celebrated artist whose patrons included the wealthiest families in Europe. The citys greatest sculptor -- the creator of such masterpieces as Apollo and Daphne and the Ecstasy of St. Teresa -- Bernini would also have been Romes preeminent architect had it not been for Francesco Borromini the one man whose talent and virtuosity rivaled his own. In contrast to Berninis easy grace Borromini was an introvert with a fiery temper who bristled when anyone interfered with his vision; his temperament alienated him from prospective patrons and precipitated his tragic end. Like Mozart and Salieri these two masters were inextricably linked their dazzling work prodding the other to greater achievement while taking merciless advantage of each others missteps. The Genius in the Design is their story a fascinating narrative of beauty and tragedy marked at turns by personal animosity and astonishing artistic achievement.