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Where did Francesco Borromini learn stonecutting and architectural skills?
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Francesco Borromini
Piazza Navona, Rome, with the church of Sant'Agnese in Agone, designed by Francesco Borromini, and (foreground) the Fountain of the Moor, originally designed by Giacomo della Porta and revised by Gian Lorenzo Bernini.
Francesco Borromini began his formal training in Milan, where his father sent him around 1608 or 1614 to learn the craft of stonecutting. During his time there, he spent several years developing his skills in the technology of both architecture and sculpture.1
After moving to Rome in 1620, Borromini furthered his professional development by working as a draftsman and stonemason in the office of his kinsman, Carlo Maderno. Under Maderno, who was then the leading architect in Italy, Borromini gained practical experience by collaborating on major projects such as St. Peterās and the Palazzo Barberini.1