A Late Seventeenth-Century Case Study in Rome: The Construction of the Palazzo Mancini, 1686-1690

The paper deals with the construction of the Palazzo Mancini in Rome, an important, yet littleknown palace on the via del Corso, conceived in 1660 by Cardinal Jules Mazarin and eventually built in c.1686-1690. From 1725 to 1804 it was the seat of the French Academy. The analysis concentrates on a period starting from 1686, when the so-called “Casa Mancina”, a series of old houses that had previously been incorporated into a single unit, was further extended with a new wing and gradually became a magnificent palace. It shows how pre-existing structures were integrated into the new fabric, and what type of foundations, walls, floors, and ceilings were used. The nature of important changes in the early aftermath of construction up to the early 1700s is also investigated. Thanks to its well-documented history, this case study provides important insights into Roman building materials, processes and techniques of the seventeenth century.