Emanuele Rodriguez Dos Santos
Encyclopedia
Emanuele Rodriguez dos Santos (c. 1702 – Rome, 22 March 1764) was a Portuguese
Baroque
architect, principally active in Rome
. His most important work is the church of SS. Trinità dei Spagnoli in the via Condotti.
, and it is not until 1721 that he is mentioned as an architect.
His first public commissions as an architect were for temporary decorations. He is mentioned in this capacity in the design for decorations commissioned by the Portuguese Franciscan, Josè Maria de Fonseca y Evora, for the festivities surrounding the canonisation of the Franciscan saints Jacopo della Marca and Francesco Solano in 1727 and Margherita da Cortona and Giovanni da Prado in 1728. These decorations were installed on the façade and in the interior of S. Maria in Aracœli
(the Franciscan
church on the Capitoline Hill
in Rome) and are known through engravings.
Between 1732 and 1734, as architect of the congregation of the Ministri degli Infirmi, Dos Santos directed the completion of works at the church of S. Maria Maddalena, the final phase of the construction of which had commenced at the end of the 17th century under the direction of Carlo Quadri. Alessandra Marino believes that the design for the highly unusual façade decoration should be attributed to Dos Santos, rather than Giuseppe Sardi
. If this is so, Dos Santos’ earlier training as a cabinet maker would have been critical, as the decoration added to the pre-existing superstructure is commonly encountered in Italian cabinet work of the period, including the cantorie of contemporary churches including S. Maria della Quercia and S. Maria Maddalena itself.
Dos Santos’ most important commission was that of the church, convent and hospice of the Trinitari Calzati, which extended from the via del Corso
down the via Condotti. Dos Santos’ participation in this project, which was carried out almost entirely to his own design, is documented from 1732. His relationship with the Trinitari Calzati turned sour in 1746 when Ferdinando Fuga
was called upon to provide perizie on the project. Dos Santos was ultimately replaced by Josè Hermosilla y Sandoval, although Hermosilla y Sandoval’s involvement was primarily limited to the interior decoration of the church.
Dos Santos worked as the architect for the fathers of the church of S. Antonio dei Portoghesi from 1733 until 1750, mostly on ephemeral architecture and the provision of perizie and stime. One of his last known works is the construction of the altar of S. Andrea Corsini
in the church of the Bambin Gesù in 1736 upon a commission of the Portuguese Mons. D’Almeyda. Nothing is known of his activities between 1750 and his death in 1764.
Portugal
Portugal , officially the Portuguese Republic is a country situated in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula. Portugal is the westernmost country of Europe, and is bordered by the Atlantic Ocean to the West and South and by Spain to the North and East. The Atlantic archipelagos of the...
Baroque
Baroque
The Baroque is a period and the style that used exaggerated motion and clear, easily interpreted detail to produce drama, tension, exuberance, and grandeur in sculpture, painting, literature, dance, and music...
architect, principally active in Rome
Rome
Rome is the capital of Italy and the country's largest and most populated city and comune, with over 2.7 million residents in . The city is located in the central-western portion of the Italian Peninsula, on the Tiber River within the Lazio region of Italy.Rome's history spans two and a half...
. His most important work is the church of SS. Trinità dei Spagnoli in the via Condotti.
Career
Very little is known of Dos Santos’ early life. He is first encountered in the bottega of Mastro Calegni, a cabinet makerCabinet making
Cabinet making is the practice of using various woodworking skills to create cabinets, shelving and furniture.Cabinet making involves techniques such as creating appropriate joints, dados, bevels, chamfers and shelving systems, the use of finishing tools such as routers to create decorative...
, and it is not until 1721 that he is mentioned as an architect.
His first public commissions as an architect were for temporary decorations. He is mentioned in this capacity in the design for decorations commissioned by the Portuguese Franciscan, Josè Maria de Fonseca y Evora, for the festivities surrounding the canonisation of the Franciscan saints Jacopo della Marca and Francesco Solano in 1727 and Margherita da Cortona and Giovanni da Prado in 1728. These decorations were installed on the façade and in the interior of S. Maria in Aracœli
Santa Maria in Aracoeli
The Basilica of St. Mary of the Altar of Heaven is a titular basilica in Rome, located on the highest summit of the Campidoglio. It is still the designated Church of the city council of Rome, which uses the ancient title of Senatus Populusque Romanus...
(the Franciscan
Franciscan
Most Franciscans are members of Roman Catholic religious orders founded by Saint Francis of Assisi. Besides Roman Catholic communities, there are also Old Catholic, Anglican, Lutheran, ecumenical and Non-denominational Franciscan communities....
church on the Capitoline Hill
Capitoline Hill
The Capitoline Hill , between the Forum and the Campus Martius, is one of the seven hills of Rome. It was the citadel of the earliest Romans. By the 16th century, Capitolinus had become Capitolino in Italian, with the alternative Campidoglio stemming from Capitolium. The English word capitol...
in Rome) and are known through engravings.
Between 1732 and 1734, as architect of the congregation of the Ministri degli Infirmi, Dos Santos directed the completion of works at the church of S. Maria Maddalena, the final phase of the construction of which had commenced at the end of the 17th century under the direction of Carlo Quadri. Alessandra Marino believes that the design for the highly unusual façade decoration should be attributed to Dos Santos, rather than Giuseppe Sardi
Giuseppe Sardi
Giuseppe Sardi was an Italian architect active in Rome. He was born at Sant'Angelo in Vado, Marche which was then part of the Papal States...
. If this is so, Dos Santos’ earlier training as a cabinet maker would have been critical, as the decoration added to the pre-existing superstructure is commonly encountered in Italian cabinet work of the period, including the cantorie of contemporary churches including S. Maria della Quercia and S. Maria Maddalena itself.
Dos Santos’ most important commission was that of the church, convent and hospice of the Trinitari Calzati, which extended from the via del Corso
Via del Corso
The Via del Corso , commonly known as the Corso, is a main street in the historical centre of Rome. It is remarkable for being absolutely straight in an area characterized by narrow meandering alleys and small piazzas...
down the via Condotti. Dos Santos’ participation in this project, which was carried out almost entirely to his own design, is documented from 1732. His relationship with the Trinitari Calzati turned sour in 1746 when Ferdinando Fuga
Ferdinando Fuga
Ferdinando Fuga was an Italian architect, whose main works were realized in Rome and Naples in the Baroque style.-Biography:Born in Florence, he began to work in that city as a pupil of Giovanni Battista Foggini. In 1717 he moved to Rome, to continue his apprentice studies...
was called upon to provide perizie on the project. Dos Santos was ultimately replaced by Josè Hermosilla y Sandoval, although Hermosilla y Sandoval’s involvement was primarily limited to the interior decoration of the church.
Dos Santos worked as the architect for the fathers of the church of S. Antonio dei Portoghesi from 1733 until 1750, mostly on ephemeral architecture and the provision of perizie and stime. One of his last known works is the construction of the altar of S. Andrea Corsini
Andrew Corsini
Andrew Corsini was an Italian Carmelite, and bishop of Fiesole.-Biography:He was born in Florence, November 30, 1302, as member of the illustrious Corsini family...
in the church of the Bambin Gesù in 1736 upon a commission of the Portuguese Mons. D’Almeyda. Nothing is known of his activities between 1750 and his death in 1764.