Francesco De Sanctis (1679 in
Rome
Rome (Italian language, Italian and , ) is the capital city and most populated (municipality) of Italy. It is also the administrative centre of the Lazio Regions of Italy, region and of the Metropolitan City of Rome. A special named with 2, ...
– 1731) was a late Baroque Italian architect, most notable for his design of the
Spanish Steps
The Spanish Steps () in Rome, Italy, climb a steep slope between Piazza di Spagna at the base and Piazza Trinità dei Monti, dominated by the Trinità dei Monti church, at the top.
The monumental stairway of 135 steps is linked with the Trinit� ...
in
Rome
Rome (Italian language, Italian and , ) is the capital city and most populated (municipality) of Italy. It is also the administrative centre of the Lazio Regions of Italy, region and of the Metropolitan City of Rome. A special named with 2, ...
in collaboration with
Alessandro Specchi. These were built between 1723 and 1726 to celebrate the peace treaty between France and Spain, linking the top of the hill (under French influence, with the church of
Trinità dei Monti and French monastic institutions) to the Spanish embassy to the Holy See at the bottom of the hill. The design left out some of the richer elements of De Sanctis's original design, such as grand fountains at a break in the steps and two rows of trees down either side to give shade and refreshment to those climbing the steps.
His other known works are the elegant facade of the church of
Trinità dei Pellegrini, with a concave profile, an 18th-century version of
San Marcello al Corso
San Marcello al Corso, is an ancient titular and conventual church in Rome, Italy. It has been served by friars of the Servite Order since c. 1375 and is the headquarters of their General Curia. The cardinal-protector of the church is norma ...
by
Carlo Fontana
Carlo Fontana (1634/1638–1714) was an Italian people, Italian["Carlo Fontana."](_blank)
''Encyclopæ ...
, and
Borsani Claudio.
Gallery
Image:Piazza di spagna.gif, The Spanish Steps in an engraving by Piranesi
Image:TrinitaPellegrini.jpg, Facade of Trinità dei Pellegrini
Image:Spanische-Treppe.jpg, The Steps in a 1908 photograph
Bibliography
* P. Portoghesi, ''Roma barocca'', Bari 1998, pp. 355–364 e 577
* E. Settimi, ''Notizie d'archivio sull'opera di Francesco De Sanctis'', in "Palladio", II, 1989
{{DEFAULTSORT:Sanctis, Francesco
1679 births
1731 deaths
18th-century Italian architects
Italian Baroque architects
Architects from Rome
sv:Francesco de Sanctis