Luigi Cagnola
Encyclopedia
Marchese Luigi Cagnola (June 9, 1762 – August 14, 1833) was an Italian architect
.
Cagnola was born in Milan
. He was sent at the age of fourteen to the Clementine College at Rome
, and afterwards studied at the University of Pavia
. He was intended for the legal profession, but his passion for architecture was too strong, and after holding some government posts at Milan, he entered as a competitor for the construction of the Porta Orientale. His designs were commended, but were not selected on account of the expense their adoption would have involved.
From that time Cagnola devoted himself entirely to architecture. After the death of his father he spent two years in Verona
and Venice
, studying the architectural structures of these cities. In 1806 he was called upon to erect a triumphal arch
for the marriage of Eugene Beauharnais with the princess of Bavaria
. The arch was of wood, but was of such beauty that it was resolved to carry it out in marble
. The result was the magnificent Arco della Pace in Milan, surpassed in dimensions only by the Arc de l'Etoile at Paris
. Among other works executed by Cagnola are the Porta di Marengo at Milan, the campanile at Urgnano
, and the chapel of Santa Marcellina in Milan.
He died at Inverigo
in August 1833, five years before the completion of the Arco del Sempione, which he designed for his native city.
Architect
An architect is a person trained in the planning, design and oversight of the construction of buildings. To practice architecture means to offer or render services in connection with the design and construction of a building, or group of buildings and the space within the site surrounding the...
.
Cagnola was born in Milan
Milan
Milan is the second-largest city in Italy and the capital city of the region of Lombardy and of the province of Milan. The city proper has a population of about 1.3 million, while its urban area, roughly coinciding with its administrative province and the bordering Province of Monza and Brianza ,...
. He was sent at the age of fourteen to the Clementine College at Rome
Rome
Rome is the capital of Italy and the country's largest and most populated city and comune, with over 2.7 million residents in . The city is located in the central-western portion of the Italian Peninsula, on the Tiber River within the Lazio region of Italy.Rome's history spans two and a half...
, and afterwards studied at the University of Pavia
University of Pavia
The University of Pavia is a university located in Pavia, Lombardy, Italy. It was founded in 1361 and is organized in 9 Faculties.-History:...
. He was intended for the legal profession, but his passion for architecture was too strong, and after holding some government posts at Milan, he entered as a competitor for the construction of the Porta Orientale. His designs were commended, but were not selected on account of the expense their adoption would have involved.
From that time Cagnola devoted himself entirely to architecture. After the death of his father he spent two years in Verona
Verona
Verona ; German Bern, Dietrichsbern or Welschbern) is a city in the Veneto, northern Italy, with approx. 265,000 inhabitants and one of the seven chef-lieus of the region. It is the second largest city municipality in the region and the third of North-Eastern Italy. The metropolitan area of Verona...
and Venice
Venice
Venice is a city in northern Italy which is renowned for the beauty of its setting, its architecture and its artworks. It is the capital of the Veneto region...
, studying the architectural structures of these cities. In 1806 he was called upon to erect a triumphal arch
Triumphal arch
A triumphal arch is a monumental structure in the shape of an archway with one or more arched passageways, often designed to span a road. In its simplest form a triumphal arch consists of two massive piers connected by an arch, crowned with a flat entablature or attic on which a statue might be...
for the marriage of Eugene Beauharnais with the princess of Bavaria
Bavaria
Bavaria, formally the Free State of Bavaria is a state of Germany, located in the southeast of Germany. With an area of , it is the largest state by area, forming almost 20% of the total land area of Germany...
. The arch was of wood, but was of such beauty that it was resolved to carry it out in marble
Marble
Marble is a metamorphic rock composed of recrystallized carbonate minerals, most commonly calcite or dolomite.Geologists use the term "marble" to refer to metamorphosed limestone; however stonemasons use the term more broadly to encompass unmetamorphosed limestone.Marble is commonly used for...
. The result was the magnificent Arco della Pace in Milan, surpassed in dimensions only by the Arc de l'Etoile at Paris
Paris
Paris is the capital and largest city in France, situated on the river Seine, in northern France, at the heart of the Île-de-France region...
. Among other works executed by Cagnola are the Porta di Marengo at Milan, the campanile at Urgnano
Urgnano
Urgnano is a comune in the Province of Bergamo in the Italian region of Lombardy, located about 45 km northeast of Milan and about 11 km south of Bergamo...
, and the chapel of Santa Marcellina in Milan.
He died at Inverigo
Inverigo
Inverigo is a comune in the Province of Como in the Italian region Lombardy, located about north of Milan and about southeast of Como...
in August 1833, five years before the completion of the Arco del Sempione, which he designed for his native city.