Giacomo Barozzi da Vignola (Vignola, near Modena, 1507‑1573) was one of the great Italian architects of 16th century Mannerism. His two great masterpieces are the Villa Farnese at Caprarola and the Jesuits' Chiesa del Gesù in Rome.

He began in Bologna, supporting himself by painting and making perspective templates for inlay craftsmen. He made a first trip to Rome in 1536 to make measured drawings of Roman temples, with a thought to publish an illustrated Vitruvius. Then François I called him to Fontainebleau, where he spent the years 1541‑1543. In Rome he was taken up by the papal family of the Farnese and worked with Michelangelo, who deeply influenced his style. From 1564 Vignola carried on Michangelo's work at St Peter's Basilica, and constructed the two subordinate domes according to Michelangelo's plans.

Some of Vignola's other outstanding work:

• The facade of San Petronio, Bologna, in competition with Giulio Romano and Andrea Palladio
• Villa Giulia for Pope Julius III, working with Vasari, (1550‑1555);
• Villa Farnese at Caprarola (1560 onwards);
• Villa Lante at Bagnaia (1566 onwards), including the gardens and their water features and casini;
• Chiesa del Gesù , Rome, the mother church of the Jesuit order, which would become a source for Baroque church facades in the 17th century;
• Church of the Angels, Assisi;
• Church of Sant'Andrea in Via Flaminia , Rome, the first oval dome, which became a signature of the Baroque

His two published books helped formulate the canons of classical architectural style: Regole delle cinque ordini d'architettura "Rules of the five orders of architecture," first published in Rome, 1562) and the posthumously-published Due regole della prospettiva pratica ("Two rules of practical perspective", Bologna 1583). Vignola presented without theoretical obscurities, practical applications that could be understood by a prospective patron. The three writers who spread the Italian style through Europe are Vignola, Serlio and Palladio.

Vignola was buried in the Pantheon, Rome. His influence can be seen in the facade of St Peter's Basilica by Carlo Maderno .

External links

• Brief biographical sketch
• Paolo Zauli on Vignola from a Bolognese perspective
• Vignola's effect on garden design