Borromini, Francesco, bawr uh MEE nee, fran CHEHS koh (1599-1667), was a major Italian architect during the baroque period of the 1600's. Baroque architecture is dominated by the rise of complex and sculptural curved lines. Borromini is noted for the imagination and originality with which he emphasized the use of space and mass in his buildings. His work greatly influenced later baroque architects of northern Europe.