The Genius in the Design: Bernini, Borromini, and the Rivalry That Transformed Rome

The rivalry between the brilliant seventeenth-century Italian architects Gianlorenzo Bernini and Francesco Borromini is the stuff of legend. Possessed of enormous talent and ambition, these two artists -- one trained as a sculptor, the other as a stonecutter -- met as contemporaries in the building yards of St. Peter's in Rome and ended their lives as bitter enemies. Over the course of their careers they became the most celebrated architects of their era, designing some of the most beautiful buildings in the world and transforming the city of Rome. The Genius in the Design is an extraordinary tale of how these two men plotted, schemed, and intrigued to get the better of each other. Full of dramatic tension and great insight into personalities, acclaimed writer Jake Morrissey's engrossing and impeccably researched account also shows that this legendary rivalry defined the Baroque style that immediately succeeded the Renaissance and created the spectacular Roman cityscape of today. Almost exactly the same age -- Bernini was born at the end of 1598, Borromini nine months later -- they were as alike and as different as any two men could be, each a potent combination of passion and enterprise, energy and imperfection. Bernini was a precocious talent who as a youth caught the attention of Pope Paul V and became Rome's most celebrated artist, whose patrons included the wealthiest families in Europe. The city's greatest sculptor -- the creator of such masterpieces as Apollo and Daphne and the Ecstasy of St. Teresa -- Bernini would also have been Rome's preeminent architect had it not been for Francesco Borromini, the one man whose talent and virtuosity rivaled his own. In contrast to Bernini's easy grace, Borromini was an introvert with a fiery temper who bristled when anyone interfered with his vision; his temperament alienated him from prospective patrons and precipitated his tragic end. Like Mozart and Salieri, these two masters were inextricably linked, their dazzling work prodding the other to greater achievement while taking merciless advantage of each other's missteps. The Genius in the Design is their story, a fascinating narrative of beauty and tragedy marked at turns by personal animosity and astonishing artistic achievement.

About the Author :
Jake Morrissey has studied and written about architecture for twenty years. His work has appeared in the Washington Post, Chicago Tribune, San Francisco Chronicle, and dozens of other publications and books. He is the author of the novel A Weekend at Blenheim and lives near New York City.

Review :
"Entertaining . . . Morrissey finely renders the intense rivalry between these two artists." -- Publishers Weekly "In clear prose and with splendid touches of drama, history and architecture are both brought wonderfully to life. -- Ross King, author of the New York Times bestsellers BRUNELLESCHI'S DOME and MICHELANGELO AND THE POPE'S CEILING "Engrossing . . . You'll never look at an important building the same way again." -- Matthew Pearl, author of the New York Times bestseller, THE DANTE CLUB "GENIUS IN THE DESIGN reveals the dark side of 17th Century Italy with sparkling anecdotes and you-are-there immediacy" -- Laurence Bergreen, author of OVER THE EDGE OF THE WORLD "Fascinating . . . a scintillating introduction to the Baroque. It is a splendid read -- Iain Pears, author of the New York Times bestseller, AN INSTANCE OF THE FINGERPOST "[Morrissey] succeeds. His descriptions of the men's passions and their art and architecture make for page-turning reading." -- Seattle Times Book Review "Morrissey illuminates the contrast between the celebrated Bernini and the anguished Borromini." -- Boston Globe "Looks in detail at the work of two of the greatest Renaissance artists" -- The Economist "Thrilling" -- London Daily Telegraph