The architect Contini was born in Rome in 1642. He was initially trained by his father before perfecting his studies with Gian Lorenzo Bernini.
Contini’s choice in the reconstruction of the church of San Nicolò l’Arena was also dictated by his important training with Bernini, so much so that in 1681, after Bernini’s death, he was chosen as the architect surveyor of the Apostolic Camera and in 1683 was appointed Prince of the Accademia di San Luca (Academy of St. Luke). He demonstrated during his work that he was more interested in the profession than academia.
