He was born in Rome in a family with longstanding sculpting traditions – his father was Carlo Fancelli, his brother Giacomo Antonio Fancelli (taught by the famous Gian Lorenzo Bernini). It is from them that he learned his craft, yet for nearly his entire life he was part of a group of those XVII-century Roman artists who did not leave a decisive mark on the city, but without whom it would have been difficult to imagine the richness, lavishness and grandeur of then buildings. In the case of decorations of St. Peter’s Basilica (San Pietro in Vaticano) and Bridge of the Holy Angel (Ponte Sant’Angelo) he aided Bernini, in the case of Palazzo di Propaganda Fide – his supervisor was Francesco Borromini. His most faithful friend and the one who employed him the longest, was the godfather of his daughter Pietro da Cortona whom he helped in decorating the Vatican Basilica and such churches as Santa Maria in Vallicella and San Carlo al Corso. After the death of Cortona, another of Fancelli’s collaborators was Carlo Rainaldi. Together they worked for two significant families – Borghese and Altieri. The sculptor created for them his artistic creations in gypsum, marble and granite, sometimes completing garlands, sometimes more ambitious works. When he lacked other commissions he did restorations of ancient statues, including those in Palazzo Borghese.

Bernini spoke highly of him, claiming that he is one of the most skilled sculptors in Rome, as was evidenced by entrusting him with completing one of the angels on the Bridge of the Holy Angel, as well as creating, together with his brother, the statue of the Nile for the Fountain of the Four Rivers (Fontana dei Quattro Fiumi). They are probably the best and the most known works of the artist in the city. For, is it possible to imagine the aforementioned fountain without this mysterious, hiding its head under a piece of cloth figure – brilliantly designed by Bernini, but splendidly completed by Cosimo.

Independent works by Fancelli start appearing around 1650 and are created in- between commissions for outstanding fellow sculptors. Walking around Rome we can find not only average works of the artist but also outstanding works, among which we can count those found in the churches of Santa Maria della Pace or San Girolamo della Carità.

Fancelli’s greatest student was Francesco Cavallini.

Just as he wished, the artist was buried in a church for which he worked – San Nicola da Tolentino, in a tomb where previously his wife had been laid to eternal rest.

The most important works of Fancelli in Rome:

•     Church of Santa Maria Porta Paradisi

Marble relief depicting Christ accompanied by Mary Salome – mother standing next to the Saints John the Evangelist and Jacob; tombstones of the church founders (1645)

•     Church of Santi Luca e Martina

Granite statues of four saint virgins, including St. Euphemia in the crypt of the church and ornamental decorations of the crypt

•     Church of Santa Maria della Pace

Decorations in the Chigi Chapel – The Holy Trinity, allegories of the Virtues (1657)

•     Church of San Girolamo della Carità

Tombstone statue of Giovanni Spada

•     Church of Santa Maria in via Lata

Marble relief depicting the SS Peter, Paul and Luke as well as a terracotta relief with the scene Rest on the Flight to Egypt (1661)

•     Church of Il Gesù

Statue of Justice in the Cerri Chapel

•     Church of Santa Maria sopra Minerva

Altieri Chapel – busts of Cardinal Giovanni Altieri and his brother Lorenzo – the father and brother of Pope Clement X

Statue of the allegory of Faith from the tombstone of Cardinal Bonelli (above the side entrance to the church from the side of the altar) (1672)

•     Church of San Marco

Tombstone of Cardinal Vidman (1660)

•     Church of Sant’Andrea della Valle

Lying statues of Justice and Charity on the church façade

•     Bridge of the Holy Angel (Ponte Sant’Angelo)

Angel with a maniple  (liturgical vestment) (1670)

•     Church of San Nicola da Tolentino

Gavotti Chapel – altar with a scene depicting the Apparition of the Blessed Virgin to Blessed Anthony Botta, bust of Cardinal Giovanni  Gavotti (1674)

•     Church of Santa Maria Maggiore

Allegory of Faith embellishing the monumental tombstone statue of Pope Clement IX (on the left side from the entrance)