Filippo Juvarra Research Paper

Filippo Juvarra

The Italian architect most widely known as one of the most accomplished architects of his time is Filippo Juvarra. He was born to a family of goldsmiths and engravers in Messina, Sicily, Italy on March 7th, 1678 and died in Madrid, Spain on January 31st, 1736. In his 58 years of life, Juvarra became popular in Europe in the early18th century. He was an amazing draftsman, and designed furniture, interiors, altars, theater sceneries, urban complexes, along with architectural views. Juvarra studied under Carlo Fontana, a Swiss architect, who is known for continuing the classicizing of a late baroque roman architecture, which was later carried on by Juvarra. Fontana was a principal professor at the Academia di San Luca, where Juvarra would later return to teach.

Later, some of his later works were was also bound after his passing. There are five albums that contain over a thousand of Juvarra’s drawings and scene designs also preserved from his earlier time in Rome. Juvarra’s work resembles simplicity, clarity, and luminosity; he also had an affinity for structure. Juvarra’s work largely resembles the concern for incident light and luminosity. At the beginning of his career, Juvarra tried to get commissioned, but it was a struggle. He did receive a few commissions from Fredrick IV, Louis XIV, Charles XII, and Joseph I. Eventually, in 1714, Juvarra was commissioned in Savoy by Vittorio Amedeo II. Amedeo was looking for an architect who would be able to transform Turin from ducal to royal capital. After this project, Juvarra was widely known and sought after for his talent. In twenty years, Juvarra was able to accomplish the building and remodeling of eight churches, sixteen palaces, and a dozen altars, while also preparing designs for projects that unfortunately were not