Maltese Baroque architecture

Auberge de Castille, designed by Andrea Belli in 1741–45

Maltese Baroque architecture is the form of Baroque architecture that developed in Malta during the 17th and 18th centuries, when the islands were under the rule of the Order of St. John. The Baroque style was introduced in Malta in the early 17th century, possibly by the Bolognese engineer Bontadino de Bontadini during the construction of the Wignacourt Aqueduct. The style became popular in the mid to late 17th century, and it reached its peak during the 18th century, when monumental Baroque structures such as Auberge de Castille were constructed.

The Baroque style began to be replaced by neoclassical architecture and other styles in the early 19th century, when Malta was under British rule. Despite this, Baroque elements continued to influence traditional Maltese architecture. Many churches continued to the built in the Baroque style throughout the 19th and 20th centuries, and to a lesser extent in the 21st century.

Background

Auberge d'Italie, originally designed by Girolamo Cassar in the Mannerist style but later redecorated in the Baroque style

Prior to the introduction of the Baroque style in Malta, the predominant architectural style on the island was Mannerist architecture, a variant of Renaissance architecture which was popularized in Malta in around the mid-16th century. The most notable Mannerist architect in Malta was Girolamo Cassar, who designed many public, private and religious buildings in the then-newly-built capital city Valletta. Cassar's style was somewhat austere, and many of his buildings were reminiscent of military architecture.[1]

Seventeenth century

Reconstruction of the Wignacourt Arch, built in 1615 by Bontadino de Bontadini

According to historian Giovanni Bonello, the Baroque style was probably introduced in Malta by the Bolognese architect and engineer Bontadino de Bontadini in the beginning of the 17th century. In July 1612, Bontadini was entrusted with the construction of the Wignacourt Aqueduct, a project which was completed on 21 April 1615. The aqueduct's decorative elements, namely the Wignacourt Arch, three water towers and several fountains, are probably the earliest representations of the Baroque style in Malta.[2]

Hostel de Verdelin, a mid-17th century example of Spanish Baroque architecture in Malta

Baroque architecture was popularized after Francesco Bounamici designed the Church of the Jesuits in Valletta in 1635.[3] In the subsequent decades, many new Baroque buildings began to be constructed by the Order of St. John, while some existing buildings were redecorated or given new façades. Early examples of Maltese Baroque buildings include Auberge de Provence (renovated 1638) and Hostel de Verdelin (c. 1650s). Most Baroque buildings in Malta were influenced by Italian or French Baroque architecture, but a few have characteristics typical of the Spanish Baroque.[4]

St. Paul's Cathedral in Mdina, designed by Lorenzo Gafà and built between 1696 and 1705

From the 1660s onwards, many churches began to be constructed in the Baroque style, and they were characterized by large domes and belfires which dominated the skyline of the towns and villages.[3] One of the most well-known and influential architects of Maltese Baroque was Lorenzo Gafà, who designed many churches between the 1660s and the 1690s. Gafà's masterpiece is St. Paul's Cathedral in Mdina, which was rebuilt between 1696 and 1705 after the original medieval cathedral was damaged in the 1693 Sicily earthquake. Other notable Baroque churches designed by Gafà include the Church of St. Lawrence in Birgu (1681–97) and the Cathedral of the Assumption in Victoria, Gozo (1697–1711).[5]

Meanwhile, many existing churches were redecorated in the Baroque style. The interior of Saint John's Co-Cathedral, then the Order's conventual church, was extensively embellished in the 1660s by the Calabrian artist Mattia Preti, although the Mannerist exterior was retained.[6]

Eighteenth century

Fort Manoel, a Baroque fortress built between 1723 and 1733

The Baroque style was the most popular architectural style in Malta throughout the 18th century. Examples of Baroque buildings from the first half of the century include the Banca Giuratale in Valletta (1721),[7] Fort Manoel in Gżira (1723–33)[8] and Casa Leoni in Santa Venera (1730).[9]

Palazzo Vilhena in Mdina, designed by Charles François de Mondion in 1726–28

An example of Baroque town planning was Charles François de Mondion's redesign of the former capital city of Mdina in the 1720s. Many medieval buildings within the city had been damaged in the earthquake of 1693, so in 1722 the newly elected Grand Master António Manoel de Vilhena initiated a building programme under the direction of Mondion. The fortifications were strengthened and many public buildings were built, and at this point significant French Baroque elements were introduced, including the Main Gate (1724), the portal of Greeks Gate (1724), the Torre dello Standardo (1725), Palazzo Vilhena (1726–28), the Banca Giuratale (1726–28) and the Corte Capitanale (1726–28).[10]

The Castellania, designed by Francesco Zerafa and Giuseppe Bonici in 1757–60

The Baroque style was popular throughout the magistracy of Manuel Pinto da Fonseca, and buildings constructed during his reign include Auberge de Castille (1741–45), the Pinto Stores (1752) and the Castellania (1757–60). Auberge de Castille was designed by the Maltese architect Andrea Belli, and it replaced Girolamo Cassar's earlier Mannerist building. The auberge's ornate façade and the steps leading to the doorway were designed to be imposing,[11] and it is regarded as the most monumental Baroque building in Malta.[3]

Nineteenth, twentieth and twenty-first centuries

The Mellieħa Parish Church, built between 1881 and 1898 in the Baroque style

Neoclassical architecture and other architectural styles were introduced in Malta in the late 18th century, and they were popularized when the island was under British rule in the early decades of the 19th century.[12] Despite the introduction of these new styles, Baroque remained popular for the nobility's palaces, and Baroque features began to appear in traditional Maltese townhouses,[3] such as Casa Nasciaro.[13]


The Baroque style remained the predominant style for most Maltese churches throughout the 19th and most of the 20th centuries. Examples of these include the Mellieħa Parish Church (1881–98)[14] and the Rotunda of Xewkija (1952–78). A few churches built in the 21st century still include significant Baroque elements, such as the Santa Venera parish church which was constructed between 1990 and 2005.[15]

Historian Giovanni Bonello ranks Maltese Baroque as one of the three "treasures" of Maltese architecture, along with the megalithic temples and the fortifications.[16]

References

  1. ↑ Mangion, Giovanni (1973). "Girolamo Cassar Architetto maltese del cinquecento" (PDF). Melita Historica (in Italian). Malta Historical Society. 6 (2): 192–200. Archived from the original (PDF) on 16 April 2016.
  2. ↑ Bonello, Giovanni (2003). "Bontadino de Bontadini – The Murder of the First Baroque Architect in Malta". Histories of Malta – Convictions and Conjectures. Malta: Fondazzjoni Patrimonju Malti. pp. 44–61. ISBN 9789993210276.
  3. 1 2 3 4 "Baroque Architecture". Culture Malta. Archived from the original on 30 June 2016.
  4. ↑ "One World – Protecting the most significant buildings, monuments and features of Valletta (97)". Times of Malta. 14 March 2009. Archived from the original on 23 March 2016.
  5. ↑ Schiavone, Michael J. (2009). Dictionary of Maltese Biographies Vol. II G-Z. Pietà: Pubblikazzjonijiet Indipendenza. pp. 851–852. ISBN 9789993291329.
  6. ↑ "History of St John's – A Legacy of the Knights of Malta". St. John's Co-Cathedral. Archived from the original on 4 March 2016.
  7. ↑ "Municipal Palace/ Banca Guratale" (PDF). National Inventory of the Cultural Property of the Maltese Islands. 28 December 2012. Retrieved 26 October 2015.
  8. ↑ "Couvre Porte – Fort Manoel" (PDF). National Inventory of the Cultural Property of the Maltese Islands. 28 June 2013. Retrieved 15 July 2015.
  9. ↑ "Locality Information". lc.gov.mt. Archived from the original on 19 November 2015.
  10. ↑ De Lucca, Denis (1979). "Mdina: Mondion's master plan for the old city". Heritage: An encyclopedia of Maltese culture and civilization. Midsea Books Ltd. 1: 53–56.
  11. ↑ "Il-Palazzi tal-Belt Valletta". Air Malta (in Maltese). Archived from the original on 17 June 2016.
  12. ↑ Muscat, Mark Geoffrey (2016). Maltese Architecture 1900–1970: Progress and Innovations. Valletta: Fondazzjoni Patrimonju Malti. p. xiii. ISBN 9789990932065.
  13. ↑ "Baroque Naxxar Townhouse". Times of Malta. 12 April 2012. Archived from the original on 20 November 2015.
  14. ↑ "Places Of Interest". Explore Mellieha. Archived from the original on 27 August 2015.
  15. ↑ "St Venera To inaugurate new Lm600,000 church on Sunday". The Malta Independent. 14 July 2005. Archived from the original on 23 July 2016.
  16. ↑ Bonello, Giovanni (18 November 2012). "Let's hide the majestic bastions". Times of Malta. Archived from the original on 4 March 2016.
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