- Francesco Sabatini
Francesco Sabatini (1722,
Palermo ,Italy - 1797,Madrid ,Spain ), also known as Francisco Sabatini was an Italianarchitect of the 18th century who worked in Spain.Born in Palermo, he studied
architecture inRome . His first contacts with theSpanish monarchy was when he participated in the construction of thePalace of Caserta for the King ofNaples and Duke ofParma andTuscany , Carlos VII, the future KingCarlos III of Spain . When he was raised to the Spanish throne, he called Sabatini to Madrid in 1760, where he was positioned above the most outstanding Spanish architects of the time. He was appointed as Great Master of Royal Works, with the rank oflieutenant colonel at the Engineers Corps, simultaneously designated also as an honorary academician of theAcademia Real de Bellas Artes de San Fernando .Sabatini's works are all encompassed within the
neoclassicism tradition, but unlike other neoclassic authors, he was not inspired fundamentally by oldGreece andRome , but by the ItalianRenaissance architecture .His talent as an architect and the favor that was professed to him by the king brought many commissions of architectural work. His professional talents were awarded in many occasions. He was promoted to
lieutenant general of the Engineers Corps, was granted the degree of Knight of theOrder of Santiago , and had direct access to the circle of confidence of the king after his designation as "gentilhombre de camara" (Gentleman of the Royal Chamber).Among his numerous works the most important were:
*Replaces Sachetti in the works of the
Royal Palace of Madrid until its conclusion (1760-1764).
*Plans thesewage system of Madrid, which was paved with stones and cleaned (1761-1765) for the urban reform of the city of Madrid.
*Builds the Royal Customs House in the Alcala Street (1761-1769), present seat of the Ministry of Property.
*WithFrancisco Gutiérrez builds the tombs ofFerdinand I of Spain and Bárbara de Braganza, located in the Church of the Salesas Real.
*Builds theConvento de San Pascual de Aranjuez (1765-1770).
*Directs the remodeling works ofCuesta de San Vicente (1767-1777).
*The prolongation of the Southeastern wing of the Royal Palace begins (1772).
*Rebuilds themonastery of the Comendadoras of Santiago (1773).
*Projects and builds thePuerta de Alcalá (1774-1778).
*In 1774 assumes the direction of works of theBasilica de San Francisco (Saint Francis Cathedral), the largest if Madrid until its conclusion in 1784.
*Builds the Door of San Vicente (1775).
*Builds the Casa de los Secretarios de Estado y del Despacho, also known as the Palace of the Marquess de Grimaldi and Palace of Godoy (1776).
*Continues the works of the General Hospital thatJosé de Hermosilla had initiated (1776-1781) during the reign of Fernando I (at the present time the National Museum and Queen Sofia Center of Arts)
*Builds the Convent of Franciscan of San Gil in thePrado de Leganitos (1786-1797), recently transformed byManuel Martín Rodriguez .
*Changes the direction of the main stairs of the Royal Palace by desire of Carlos IV.He participated in the reconstruction of thePlaza Mayor de Madrid after the 1790 fire, together withJuan de Villanueva .The famous Gardens of Sabatini (located in front of the North facade of the Royal Palace of Madrid, between the Bailén street and the hill of San Vicente) were not designed by him, but that were created in the 1930s in the place which they occupied in the
stables constructed by Sabatini for servicing the palace.Furthermore, Sabatini was responsible for building the Arms Factory of Toledo, the headquarters for the Wallon Guarda in
Leganés (presently part of theUniversidad Carlos III de Madrid ), a convent inValladolid (Santa Ana) and another one inGranada (Comendadoras of Santiago) and the well-known Chapel of the Immaculate in the Cathedral ofOsma , also called ofPalafox .
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