Giuseppe Sardi
Encyclopedia
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
. Known primarily for his church of Santa Maria del Rosario
in Marino outside Rome, his name has been linked with the design of the façade of the church of Santa Maria Maddalena
in Rome although his involvement with this and with some other building projects remains uncertain. He is not to be confused with another Giuseppe Sardi who was active in Venice.
fiefdom of Marino
, in the Alban Hills
outside Rome. The interior is centrally planned and has an unusual and elaborately decorated dome. This is also his first known work. His work as capomastro is documented on the building sites of Santa Maria in Trastevere
(where he worked under the direction of Recalcati in 1714), Santa Maria in Monticelli (where he worked under the direction of Sassi in 1715, about six years before his conjectured work on San Paolo alla Regola, located around the corner) and at Santissima Trinità dei Pellegrini
(under the direction of Francesco de Sanctis
in 1722 - 23). Sardi is also credited with one other minor work, the refurbishment of the baptistery of San Lorenzo in Lucina
, executed between 1713 and 1721.
Although Sardi's name has been connected with several churches in and around Rome, one of the mostly securely attested of his commissions is the addition of a new façade to the church of Santa Maria in Cosmedin
in the Foro Boario in Rome. This façade was erected in place of the previous Romanesque
façade in 1718, and destroyed in 1896 – 99 but its appearance is recorded in Giuseppe Vasi
's Magnificenze di Roma (Plate 56) as well as in photographs . Also confirmed is Sardi's authorship of the façade of the Roman church of SS Quaranta Martiri (also known as S. Pasquale Bailonne) (1736–39). This façade appears to have been modelled on that by Francesco Fontana for the church of S. Maria ad Nives (Santa Maria delle Neve), located near the Colosseum
, and erected around 1708.
More contentious are Sardi's contributions to two other churches that had new (or renovated) façades finished in the period between 1720 and 1740. The first of these projects was the construction of the façade of San Paolo alla Regola, a church which had been erected around 1687 to a design of Father Giovanni Battista Bergonzoni (called Borgognone), a teacher of theology at the college attached to the church. Vasi claims that the façade was the design of Giovanni Battista Conti, while Titi attributes it to 'Ciacomo Ciolli’ (Giacomo Cioli) and Sardi jointly. In sum, there is no scholarly consensus on how exactly the work should be divided.
A similar problem concerns the attribution to Sardi of the facade of S. Maria Maddalena which is significant as one of a limited number of facades in Rome displaying the Rococo
style, The facade was begun in the late seventeenth century and was still unfinished in 1734. Rossini's Mercurio errante (1741) and the 1745 edition of Roisecco's guide book do not mention the designer, although they do draw attention to the façade. The first mention of Sardi's involvement is in the 1750 edition of Roisecco's guide book. Scholars have long been undecided who should be credited with this design which has also been attributed to Emanuele Rodriguez Dos Santos
. Too little of Sardi's work survives to permit attributions on stylistic grounds.
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...
. He was born at Sant'Angelo in Vado, Marche which was then part of the Papal States
Papal States
The Papal State, State of the Church, or Pontifical States were among the major historical states of Italy from roughly the 6th century until the Italian peninsula was unified in 1861 by the Kingdom of Piedmont-Sardinia .The Papal States comprised territories under...
. Known primarily for his church of Santa Maria del Rosario
Santa María del Rosario
Santa María del Rosario is a town and municipality in Oaxaca in south-western Mexico. The municipality covers an area of km².It is part of the Tlaxiaco District in the south of the Mixteca Region....
in Marino outside Rome, his name has been linked with the design of the façade of the church of Santa Maria Maddalena
Santa Maria Maddalena
The Santa Maria Maddalena is a Roman Catholic church in Rome, named after Saint Mary Magdalene. It is located on the Via della Maddalena, one of the streets leading from the Piazza del Pantheon in the Campo Marzio area of historic Rome....
in Rome although his involvement with this and with some other building projects remains uncertain. He is not to be confused with another Giuseppe Sardi who was active in Venice.
Career
In contemporary sources, Sardi is described more often as acting in the capacity of a capomastro or master builder rather than as an architect. He designed and executed only one church from scratch, that of S. Maria del Rosario in 1712 in the Colonna familyColonna family
The Colonna family is an Italian noble family; it was powerful in medieval and Renaissance Rome, supplying one Pope and many other Church and political leaders...
fiefdom of Marino
Marino
Marino, Mariño or Maryino may refer to:In places:* Marino, Lazio, a town in the province of Rome, Italy* Marino, South Australia, a suburb of Adelaide* Marino, County Down in Northern Ireland...
, in the Alban Hills
Alban Hills
The Alban Hills are the site of a quiescent volcanic complex in Italy, located southeast of Rome and about north of Anzio.The dominant peak is Monte Cavo. There are two small calderas which contain lakes, Lago Albano and Lake Nemi...
outside Rome. The interior is centrally planned and has an unusual and elaborately decorated dome. This is also his first known work. His work as capomastro is documented on the building sites of Santa Maria in Trastevere
Santa Maria in Trastevere
The Basilica of Our Lady in Trastevere is a titular minor basilica, one of the oldest churches in Rome, and perhaps the first in which mass was openly celebrated...
(where he worked under the direction of Recalcati in 1714), Santa Maria in Monticelli (where he worked under the direction of Sassi in 1715, about six years before his conjectured work on San Paolo alla Regola, located around the corner) and at Santissima Trinità dei Pellegrini
Santissima Trinità dei Pellegrini, Rome
The Chiesa della Santissima Trinità dei Pellegrini is a church in the historic city centre of Rome. In the Regola rione, it neighbours other important historic buildings such as the Palazzo Farnese, Ponte Sisto and the Via Giulia.In 2008 Pope Benedict XVI entrusted the parish to the Priestly...
(under the direction of Francesco de Sanctis
Francesco de Sanctis (architect)
Francesco De Sanctis was a late Baroque Italian architect, most notable for his design of the Spanish Steps in Rome in collaboration with Alessandro Specchi...
in 1722 - 23). Sardi is also credited with one other minor work, the refurbishment of the baptistery of San Lorenzo in Lucina
San Lorenzo in Lucina
The Church of St Lawrence's at Lucina is a Roman Catholic parish and titular church and minor basilica in Rome, Italy, dedicated to Saint Lawrence, Roman deacon and martyr. The name Lucina comes from the Roman matron owner of the house on which the church was built.The current Cardinal Priest of...
, executed between 1713 and 1721.
Although Sardi's name has been connected with several churches in and around Rome, one of the mostly securely attested of his commissions is the addition of a new façade to the church of Santa Maria in Cosmedin
Santa Maria in Cosmedin
The Basilica of Saint Mary in Cosmedin is a minor basilica church in Rome, Italy. It is located in the rione of Ripa.- History :The church was built in the 8th century during the Byzantine Papacy over the remains of the Templum Herculis Pompeiani in the Forum Boarium and of the Statio annonae, one...
in the Foro Boario in Rome. This façade was erected in place of the previous Romanesque
Romanesque architecture
Romanesque architecture is an architectural style of Medieval Europe characterised by semi-circular arches. There is no consensus for the beginning date of the Romanesque architecture, with proposals ranging from the 6th to the 10th century. It developed in the 12th century into the Gothic style,...
façade in 1718, and destroyed in 1896 – 99 but its appearance is recorded in Giuseppe Vasi
Giuseppe Vasi
Giuseppe Vasi was an Italian engraver and architect, best known for his vedute.He was born in Corleone, Sicily and later moved to Rome. From 1746 to 1761 he published a series of ten volumes including 240 engravings of vedute of Rome...
's Magnificenze di Roma (Plate 56) as well as in photographs . Also confirmed is Sardi's authorship of the façade of the Roman church of SS Quaranta Martiri (also known as S. Pasquale Bailonne) (1736–39). This façade appears to have been modelled on that by Francesco Fontana for the church of S. Maria ad Nives (Santa Maria delle Neve), located near the Colosseum
Colosseum
The Colosseum, or the Coliseum, originally the Flavian Amphitheatre , is an elliptical amphitheatre in the centre of the city of Rome, Italy, the largest ever built in the Roman Empire...
, and erected around 1708.
More contentious are Sardi's contributions to two other churches that had new (or renovated) façades finished in the period between 1720 and 1740. The first of these projects was the construction of the façade of San Paolo alla Regola, a church which had been erected around 1687 to a design of Father Giovanni Battista Bergonzoni (called Borgognone), a teacher of theology at the college attached to the church. Vasi claims that the façade was the design of Giovanni Battista Conti, while Titi attributes it to 'Ciacomo Ciolli’ (Giacomo Cioli) and Sardi jointly. In sum, there is no scholarly consensus on how exactly the work should be divided.
A similar problem concerns the attribution to Sardi of the facade of S. Maria Maddalena which is significant as one of a limited number of facades in Rome displaying the Rococo
Rococo
Rococo , also referred to as "Late Baroque", is an 18th-century style which developed as Baroque artists gave up their symmetry and became increasingly ornate, florid, and playful...
style, The facade was begun in the late seventeenth century and was still unfinished in 1734. Rossini's Mercurio errante (1741) and the 1745 edition of Roisecco's guide book do not mention the designer, although they do draw attention to the façade. The first mention of Sardi's involvement is in the 1750 edition of Roisecco's guide book. Scholars have long been undecided who should be credited with this design which has also been attributed to Emanuele Rodriguez Dos Santos
Emanuele Rodriguez Dos Santos
Emanuele Rodriguez dos Santos 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.-Career:...
. Too little of Sardi's work survives to permit attributions on stylistic grounds.
Further reading
- Mariano Armellini, Le chiese di Roma dalle loro origini sino al secolo XVI, Rome: Tipografia Editrice Romana, 1887.
- Walter Buchowiecki, Handbuch der Kirchen Roms: Die Kirchen innerhalb der Mauern Roms – S. Maria delle Neve bis S. Susanna, Vienna: Verlag Brüder Hollinek, 1974.
- Marco Bussagli, Rome: Art and Architecture, Königswinter: Könemann, 2004.
- Bruno Contardi and Giovanna Curcio (eds), In urbe architectus: Modelli, disegni, misure. La professione dell’architetto Roma 1680–1750, Rome: Argos Edizioni, 1991.
- Nina A. Mallory, ‘The Architecture of Giuseppe Sardi and the Attribution of the Façade of the Church of the Maddalena’, Journal of the Society of Architectural Historians, 26, no. 2, 1967, pp. 83 – 101.
- Nina A. Mallory, Roman Rococo Architecture from Clement XI to Benedict XIV (1700–1758), New York: Garland Publishing, 1977.
- Alessandra Marino, ‘La decorazione settecentesca della facciata di S. Maria Maddalena: un’occasione per alcune precisazioni sul rococò romano’, Quaderni dell’istituto di storia dell’architettura, 15 – 20, 1990 – 2, pp. 789 – 98.
- Carlo Pietrangeli (ed), Guide rionali di Roma: Rione III – Colonna (Parte Prima), Rome: Fratelli Palombi Editori, 1977.
- Paolo Portoghesi, Roma barocca, Rome: Editori Laterza, 1982.
- Filippo Titi, Descrizione delle pitture, sculture e architteture esposte al pubblico in Roma, Rome: Multigrafica Editrice, 1978.
- Giuseppe Vasi, I conventi e case dei chierici regolari (Delle magnificenze di Roma antica e moderna, Libro settimo), Rome: Niccolò e Marco Pagliarini, 1756.
- John Varriano, Italian Baroque and Rococo Architecture, New York: Oxford University Press, 1986.