Van vitelli, Luigi (1700-1773)

Italian architect, born at Naples, son of a Dutch painter named Kasper van Wittel. He studied in Rome and became architect to St Peter's. His chief buildings were the royal palace at Caserta (1752-74) (built in imitation of Versailles); the convent of San Agostino, Rome; and the remodelling of Santa Maria degli Angeli, the church converted from the Baths of Diocletian by Michelangelo.

Caseta is original in its use of scenographic principles, its style being more disciplined and formal than that of architects such as Francesco Borromini.