The construction of
the palace near the Trevi Fountain, has been dated to
the end of the 16th century and attributed
to the followers of the famous Giacomo Oella Porta. The
building, commissioned by the Vaini family wasn't
sufficiently prestigious since, as is said in the
documents, when the Carpegna's acquired it in the 1630s,
they immediately decided to change and enlarge it. Since
1932, the building has been the headquarters of the
National Academy of St. Luke, established in 1577. The
old institution moved the works that form the Gallery of
the
Academy of St. Luke from the demolished site of Saints
Luke and Martina. The works include paintings by Raphael,
Jacopo Bassano,
Guido Reni, Pietro da Cortona and Baciccia.
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The reconstruction of the palace can be dated io the period between 1638 and 1647. From the designs that have remained, il can be understood that, unfortunaleìy, very litile of the Borromini project was carried out. The works done by Borromini, on the requesì of Caunì Ambrogio Carpegna, shortly after he became the owner of the property, are the curved great staircase, the internal portico, the courtyard and especially the surprising internaì main
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The latter is characterised by two coìumns supporting averturned carnucopias whase winged avaì end is, with the face of Medusa, a cìassic motif that was said lo keep away evil spirits. A festoon of lau rei Ieaves and flowers hang from the capitals and together with the upper decoration forms an ariginai oval.
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