Nicola Salvi

Admitted to the Roman Academy of Arcadia in 1717, Salvi became an architect only after studies in mathematics and philosophy.

His mentor in architecture was Antonio Canevari, who served also as consulting architect for the king of Portugal.

In Rome, the patronage for the building of large structures had declined relative to the previous century.

Salvi's design for the fountain however was chosen instead of plans by Ferdinando Fuga and his friend Luigi Vanvitelli.

Salvi's other remaining works are few: he rebuilt the church of Santa Maria in Gradi (1738) in Viterbo, but it was destroyed by bombs in World War II and is still being restored.