CAPRICCIO IN THE WORKS OF FRANCESCO BORROMINI

A study through THE LIFE of BORROMINI by GIOVANNI BATTISTA PASSERI

Abstract

Giovanni Battista Passeri (c.1610-1679) who was an Italian painter, a poet and a priest, wrote Italian baroque artist’s biographies that contain the life of Francesco Borromini who was a one of the greatest architect of Italian Baroque.

In this life, Passeri uses a word “capriccio (or capriccioso)” to praise Borromini for his genius, in particularly for his ingenious invention. But Passeri doesn’t use “capriccio” to express the anti-classical features of Borromini’s works.

By investigating the meaning of “capriccio” in the context of the art criticism in the 17th century, the characteristic of the invention of Borromini would be revealed.