Filippo Juvarra

Filippo Juvarra, also written Juvara, was an Italian architect, scenographer, engraver and goldsmith who lived from 7 March 1678 to 31 January 1736 and worked in the late Baroque style, chiefly in Italy, Spain and Portugal. Born in Messina, Sicily, into a family of goldsmiths and engravers, he was ordained a priest in 1703 and taught himself architecture from books before moving to Rome in 1704, where he studied with Carlo and Francesco Fontana. His early career centred on festive settings and theatre sets, many for Cardinal Ottoboni. From 1714 he served the House of Savoy in Turin, where he became chief court architect and designed churches and palaces including the Basilica of Superga, the hunting lodge at Stupinigi and the facade of the Palazzo Madama. In 1719 he travelled to Portugal to plan the palace at Mafra for King John V.