Early career Born in
Milan, he was a pupil of Francesco Bianchi, and from 1708 to 1716 trained in the College of Engineers and Architects in Milan. He worked in the local Lombard architectural tradition but incorporated late Baroque elements, reflecting architectural trends throughout Europe. His early works included the Oratory for the
church of San Bernardino, Milan (1716; completed 1749), the completion of the parish church at
Desio (1726–36) and the Villa Perego () at
Inverigo, both near Milan. In 1731, he designed the main altar for the Sanctuary of the Blessed Virgin of
Caravaggio. In the following years Merlo designed and directed the construction of the entryway stairs for
Palazzo Litta, Milan (1738), and designed the Oratory of the Immacolata in
Magenta, Lombardy (1740).
Milan Cathedral His most important work was at the
Cathedral of Milan. Following the rejection of plans by
Luigi Vanvitelli, the cathedral chapter entrusted Merlo and
Francesco Croce with the task of carrying out the new façade (plans; Milan,
Biblioteca Ambrosiana). Merlo’s plans, prepared in 1745, proposed
Gothic pilasters similar to those of the interior, replacing the twisted columns proposed by Vanvitelli. Work did not begin until 1765 but was completed under Croce’s supervision by 1769. Merlo also made proposals in 1759 for the great spire of the cathedral.
Other works During his years of association with the cathedral Merlo also designed the façade of
Sant'Andrea Apostolo (1745) at Pioltello, which incorporated vegetable motifs on the volutes connecting the upper and lower storeys, and the elaborate patterned marble high altar (1759) of San Sebastiano. He was a member of the Accademia dei Trasformati, Milan, and left two printed works on
hydraulics as well as several manuscript studies, one of which was on curves. This interest in curvilinear form derived from
Guarino Guarini and was reflected in his elliptical ground-plan for Santa Giuliana at Caponago (1742), where the interior is planned as a series of free-flowing lines articulated with free-standing Ionic columns and Ionic pilasters. In conjunction with Giulio Galliori Merlo designed the ephemeral decorative car used to translate the body of St.
Charles Borromeo. Again with Galliori he designed the cupola of the
Sanctuary of the Blessed Virgin of the Sorrows, Rho. He helped raise the belltower for the parochial church of
Olginate. He also helped design a house for the poor and jail. == References ==