Which Baroque architect is known for the Church of San Carlo alle Quattro Fontane in Rome?

• A. Gian Lorenzo Bernini
• B. Carlo Maderno
• C. Francesco Borromini
• D. Giovanni Battista Nolli

Answer: (C)

Borromini’s dynamic geometry and sculpted handling of space define San Carlo alle Quattro Fontane. The church showcases his signature move: compressing a sophisticated, multi-dimensional design into a tight urban site, using curves and geometric forms to create drama as you move through the space. The plan is subtly oval, walls curve in and out, and the dome rises above a layered, almost twisting interior. The exterior engages with concave and convex surfaces that catch light differently, reinforcing a sense of motion that is core to his Baroque language.

This contrasts with Bernini’s approach, which emphasizes grand sculptural drama and theatrical effect; Maderno is known for extending and monumentalizing spaces like St. Peter’s facade; and Giovanni Battista Nolli is celebrated as a mapmaker and urban planner rather than the architect of this church. So, the work is most closely associated with Francesco Borromini.