Carlo Marchionni

Architect, sculptor, and draftsman, Carlo Marchionni had a successful career in Rome in the 18th century under the patronage of cardinals Alessandro and Annibale Albani. Carlo Marchioni first trained in sculpture before studying architecture at the Academy of Saint Luke in Rome where he won the first prize in 1728. That same year Alessandro Albani commissioned him to build his villa in Anzio. In 1734 Albani again chose Marchioni to the design of the facade of the Collegiate Church of Nettuno. Between 1730 and 1748 Marchionni pursued a career as a sculptor, executing, among other sculptures, the tomb of Benedict XIII in Santa Maria sopra Minerva, Rome. It was only in 1750 that Marchionni began his real career as an architect, following the departure of Luigi Vanvitelli for Naples. In 1752 Marchionni became architect of the papal chamber, and in 1754 he was named Architetto Revisore of Saint Peter's Basilica, a position which gave him responsibility for all work in the basilica. Marchionni became Accademico di merito of the Academy of Rome in 1740 and Principe in 1775.