CALDERA'RI, OTTO'NE, was born of a noble family at Vicenza in 1730. Although that city is indebted to him for many important additions to its previous architectural attractions, little has been told respecting his life. His enthusiasm for architecture is said to havo been first excited by viewing the Basilica of Vicenza by moonlight, which made so powerful an impression upon him that he thenceforth devoted himself to the study. One of his earliest recorded works was the casino erected by him near Vicenza, in 1772, for the Count Anti Soh, which has a very extended front towards the gardens, with terraces uniting the house to the wings. In 1773 he built the small Palazzo Bonin! at Vicenza, with a facade of two orders, Doric and Ionic (of five intercolumns), surmounted by an attic; it is a most decided imitation of Palladio. The Palazzo Cordellina (1776) at Vicenza, which is esteemed by his editors his "capo d'opera," differs very little from the preceding in the style of its façade, which presents the same orders. The Villa Porto at Vivaro, five miles from \'iceuza, erected in 1773, is a happier specimen of his talent, and the Dories colonnades between the body and wings, backed by a screen wall with openings iu it, produce much scene effect. In 1782 ho built the Palazzo Loachi
at Vicenza, a Corinthian order and attic on a rusticated basement ; in 1785 the Casino Todaro, and also the Palazzi Quinto and Salvi, iu the same city. Nor was Vicenza alone the scene of his architectural labours, for he designed the beautiful atrium of the Setninario at Verona, the Villa Capra, at Marano, and the Casa Cocastelli iu the Mantuan territory.
Count Calderari belonged to the principal academies and societies in Europe, and was elected by the French Institute expressly as being "foremost among the Italian architects of that day ;" nor can it be denied that he is entitled to the admiration of those who hold Palladio to be a pattern of excellence. He died at 'Vicenza, October 26, 1803, and hie (liege was pronounced by Diedo, secretary to the Academy of Fine Arta, Venice, and the chief editor of his 'Opera di Architettura,' &o., 2 vols. folio, 1803-17.