Painting #118 - Baroque Architecture

Roman Baroque Architecture  

Whilst Renaissance was driven by Florence and Venice, Baroque was driven by Rome. 

The Counter-Reformation, also called the Catholic Reformation, was the period of Catholic resurgence that was initiated in response to the Protestant Reformation.

The Catholic Reformation began with the Council of Trent (1545–1563) convoked by Pope Paul III (1468-1534-1549), and largely ended with the conclusion of the European wars of religion in 1648.

Pope Sixtus V (1521-1585-1590, Italian) ordered the revamping of city architect in Rome.

Baroque Aarchitecture 

Carlo Moderno (1566-1623), the most successful architect then, designed in 1603 the façade of St. Peter's Basilica:

Model of Early Baroque Architecture 

Francesco Borromini (1599-1667, Italian architect) built a number of chapels, including The church of San Carlo alle Quattro Fontane:

San Carlo alle Quattro Fontane
(Saint Charles at the Four Fountains)
aka San Carlino
(20 x 12 m) 

Gian Lorenzo Bernini  (1598–1680, Italian sculptor, painter, architect) created the piazza leading to St Peter's. The creation extended the symbolic greatness of the Vatican area.

The two massive semi-circular colonnades（柱廊）formed a spectacular oval-shaped arena within which gathering visitors could witness the appearance of the pope. 

Bernini is also credited with creating the Baroque style of sculpture.

St. Peter's baldachin / 教堂祭壇上的織錦華蓋
- Bernini
- bronze sculpture (20 m) 1623-34
- St. Peter's Basilica  (Vatican City)

Ecstasy of Saint Teresa
- Bernini
- marble  (life-size, 350 cm) 1647-52
- Santa Maria della Vittoria  (Rome) 

Fontana dei Quattro Fiumi (Fountain of the Four Rivers)
- Bernini (designer) 1651
- Piazza Navona  (Rome) 

Source: Wikipedia