Francesco Borromini's palazzo for that family, now the Brazilian Embassy, occupies the southwest corner of the piazza.

WSJ: Rome's Piazza Navona: Perfection, Squared | Masterpiece by Willard Spiegelman

Though inevitably overshadowed by his contemporary, Bernini, Borromini has long been acknowledged as one of the period's greatest architects.

ECONOMIST: Italian Baroque

In fact at the time the fountain was commissioned Borromini had not yet begun his work on the church.

ECONOMIST: Italian Baroque

The pope also commissioned the Church of Sant' Agnese in Agone, begun by Girolamo and Carlo Rainaldi, which Borromini finished.

WSJ: Rome's Piazza Navona: Perfection, Squared | Masterpiece by Willard Spiegelman

Like Borromini, but to a far greater extent, he has suffered in comparison with another artist: in his case, with his immediate predecessor, Caravaggio.

ECONOMIST: Italian Baroque

Rome in its turn will honour Borromini with an exhibition at the Palazzo delle Esposizioni, which opens later this month and runs until next February.

ECONOMIST: Italian Baroque

Borromini was born Francesco Castelli in Bissone, in the Canton Ticino.

ECONOMIST: Italian Baroque

He is now cast as England's Borromini, too original for his time, while Wren and Vanbrugh play the role of Bernini, favored by the powers that be.

WSJ: St. Mary Woolnoth | Nicholas Hawksmoor | Fortress of God | Masterpiece by Richard B. Woodward

Appropriately enough, this year's Borromini celebrations began in Switzerland.

ECONOMIST: Italian Baroque

Bernini and Borromini were the Baroque version.

ECONOMIST: Italian Baroque

Nevertheless, Borromini was a worthy peer.

ECONOMIST: Italian Baroque