Borromini's Book

Borromini's Book: The 'Full Relation of the Building' of the Roman Oratory by Francesco Borromini and Virgilio Spada of the Oratory.  "The "Full relation" of the Oratory House in Rome was written down by Father Virgilio Spada but the voice is that of its chief architect, the brilliant Italian-Swiss Francesco Borromini (1599-1667). It was published only in 1725; this fully illustrated first English edition makes accessible in translation a unique and fascinating story of the architect's aesthetic and technical problems in taking over a project already under way, and his solutions - a tale indeed to hold "children from play, and old men from the chimney corner." Borromini now stands as one of the greatest artists of the Italian Baroque. The Companion draws on both previous and new research to place the Oratory building and its architect in context - historical, architectural, biographical and topographical. Photographs available upon request    Some creasing along the edges of dusk jacket. Minor discoloration