Editing Francesco Borromini (section)

=== Sant'Ivo alla Sapienza ===
From 1640 to 1650, he worked on the design of the church of [[Sant'Ivo alla Sapienza]] near [[University of Rome La Sapienza]] palace. It initially had been the church of the Roman [[Archiginnasio]]. He was recommended for the commission in 1632, by his then-supervisor for the work at the Palazzo Barberini, [[Gian Lorenzo Bernini]]. The site, like many in cramped Rome, is challenged by external perspectives, being built to abut the wings of an existing structure, at the end of [[Giacomo della Porta]]'s long courtyard. 

The dome and cochlear steeple are peculiar and reflect the idiosyncratic architectural motifs that distinguish Borromini from contemporaries. Inside, the nave has an unusual centralized plan circled by alternating concave and convex-ending cornices, leading to a dome decorated with linear arrays of stars and putti. 

The geometry of the structure is a symmetric six-pointed star; from the centre of the floor, the cornice looks like two equilateral triangles forming a hexagon, but three of the points are clover-like, while the other three are concavely clipped. The innermost columns are points on a circle. The fusion of feverish and dynamic baroque excesses with rationalistic geometry is an excellent match for a church in a papal institution of higher learning.<ref>Ruggiero, Rocky, ''[https://rockyruggiero.com/shop/masterpiece-showcase/santivo-alla-sapienza/ Sant'Ivo Alla Sapienza]'', Making Art and History Come To Life, rockyruggiero.com, accessed 20250413 good images show fit into existing setting</ref>