'Carlo Rainaldi' (
May 4 1611 –
February 8 1691) was an
Italian architect of the
Baroque period.
Born in
Rome, Rainaldi was one of the leading architects of
17th century Rome, known for a certain grandeur in his designs. He worked at first with his father,
Girolamo Rainaldi, a late
Mannerist architect in Rome. After his father's death, he fully embraced the monumental Baroque style. He gained ascendancy in Rome when the Barberini papacy of
Pope Urban VIII was replaced by that of the more austere Pamphilj papacy of
Innocent X. His works include the façade of
Sant'Andrea della Valle (
1661-
65), the twin churches of
Santa Maria dei Miracoli and
Santa Maria in Montesanto, and
Santa Maria in Campitelli (
1663-
67), considered his finest work. He was unable to complete the facade of
Sant'Agnese in Agone during work in 1653-57.
Beyond his work as an architect in stone, Rainaldi also designed stage sets for religious rituals and events. In 1650, he designed the sets for the Quarant'ore, or Forty Hours Devotion, held in the church of
Il Gesù. In 1665, he designed a
catafalque commemorating the death of
Philip IV of Spain.
Rainaldi died in
Rome.