Maltese Baroque architecture

File:Auberge de Castille in Valletta, Malta (29359161198).jpg, 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.https://www.um.edu.mt/library/oar/bitstream/handle/123456789/12023/OA%20Appunti%20sull'%20architettura%20religiosa%20a%20Malta%20in%20eta%20Barocca.pdf?sequence=1&isAllowed=y{{Dead link|date=March 2020 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }} 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.https://susanklaiber.files.wordpress.com/2018/07/eahn2018_proceedings.pdf {{Bare URL PDF|date=March 2022}}

Background

File:Auberge d'Italie, Valletta 002.jpg, 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.{{cite journal|journal=Ekistics|last=Zammit|first=Andre|title=Valletta and the system of human settlements in the Maltese Islands|volume=53|issue=316/317|publisher=Athens Center of Ekistics|date=1986|pages=89–95|jstor=43620704}} 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.{{cite journal|last1=Mangion |first1=Giovanni |title=Girolamo Cassar Architetto maltese del cinquecento |journal=Melita Historica |date=1973 |volume=6 |issue=2 |pages=192–200 |url=http://melitensiawth.com/incoming/Index/Melita%20Historica/MH.06(1972-75)/MH.6(1972)2/orig07.pdf |publisher=Malta Historical Society |language=it |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160416133159/http://melitensiawth.com/incoming/Index/Melita%20Historica/MH.06%281972-75%29/MH.6%281972%292/orig07.pdf |archive-date=16 April 2016 |url-status=dead }} It took about a century for Mannerism to fall out of favour and replaced by Baroque, and according to James Quentin Hughes it may have been Lorenzo Gafa who ignited the new style.{{cite journal|journal=Melita Historica|last=Hughes|first=J. Quentin|date=1953|title=The influence of Italian mannerism upon Maltese architecture|url=http://melitensiawth.com/incoming/Index/Melita%20Historica/MH.01(1952-55)/MH.1(1953)2/orig05.pdf|volume=1|issue=2|page=110}}

Seventeenth century

File:Wignacourt aqueduct postcard 1899.jpg, 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.{{cite book|last1=Bonello|first1=Giovanni|author-link1=Giovanni Bonello|title=Histories of Malta – Convictions and Conjectures|date=2003|publisher=Fondazzjoni Patrimonju Malti|location=Malta|isbn=9789993210276|pages=44–61|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=SB4jAQAAIAAJ|chapter=Bontadino de Bontadini – The Murder of the First Baroque Architect in Malta}}

File:Hostel de Verdelin.jpeg, a mid-17th century example of Spanish Baroque architecture in Malta]]

However, according to Leonard Mahoney, it was Francesco Buonamici who introduced Baroque architecture in Malta.{{cite book|last=Mahoney|first=Leonard|date=1996|title=5000 Years of Architecture in Malta|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=zf0pAQAACAAJ&q=5,000+years+of+architecture+in+Malta+Castellania|publisher=Valletta Pub.|isbn=9789990958157|page=310}} In either case Buonamici is accredited for popularizing Baroque after he designed the Church of the Jesuits in Valletta in 1635.{{cite web|title=Baroque Architecture|url=http://culturemalta.org/48/47/Baroque-Architecture|website=Culture Malta|url-status=usurped|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160630172716/http://culturemalta.org/48/47/Baroque-Architecture|archive-date=30 June 2016}} Romano Fortunato Carapecchia has managed to transform Valletta from a mainly Mannerist style to a significant Baroque style.https://www.um.edu.mt/library/oar/bitstream/handle/123456789/40464/Ephemeral_manifestations_in_Baroque_Malta_2011.pdf?sequence=1&isAllowed=y {{Dead link|date=February 2022}} 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 ({{circa}} 1650s). Most Baroque buildings in Malta were influenced by Italian or French Baroque architecture, but a few have characteristics typical of the Spanish Baroque.{{cite news|title=One World – Protecting the most significant buildings, monuments and features of Valletta (97)|url=http://www.timesofmalta.com/articles/view/20090314/opinion/one-world-protecting-the-most-significant-buildings-monuments-and.248733|work=Times of Malta|date=14 March 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160323112047/http://www.timesofmalta.com/articles/view/20090314/opinion/one-world-protecting-the-most-significant-buildings-monuments-and.248733|archive-date=23 March 2016}}

File:Malta - Mdina - Pjazza San Pawl + St. Paul's Cathedral ex 01 ies.jpg 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 belfries which dominated the skyline of the towns and villages. 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).{{cite book|last1=Schiavone|first1=Michael J.|title=Dictionary of Maltese Biographies Vol. II G-Z|date=2009|publisher=Pubblikazzjonijiet Indipendenza|location=Pietà|isbn=9789993291329|pages=851–852}}

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.{{cite web|title=History of St John's – A Legacy of the Knights of Malta|url=http://www.stjohnscocathedral.com/history-of-st-johns.html|website=St. John's Co-Cathedral|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304040605/http://www.stjohnscocathedral.com/history-of-st-johns.html|archive-date=4 March 2016}}

Eighteenth century

File:Malta - Gzira - Manoel Island - Fort Manoel (MSTHC) 07 ies.jpg, 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),{{cite web|title=Municipal Palace/ Banca Guratale|url=http://www.culturalheritage.gov.mt/filebank/inventory/01126.pdf|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160507192104/http://www.culturalheritage.gov.mt/filebank/inventory/01126.pdf|url-status=dead|archive-date=May 7, 2016|website=National Inventory of the Cultural Property of the Maltese Islands|access-date=26 October 2015|date=28 December 2012}} Fort Manoel in Gżira (1723–33){{cite web|title=Couvre Porte – Fort Manoel|url=http://www.culturalheritage.gov.mt/filebank/inventory/Knights%20Fortifications/1344.pdf|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150716003524/http://www.culturalheritage.gov.mt/filebank/inventory/Knights%20Fortifications/1344.pdf|url-status=dead|archive-date=July 16, 2015|website=National Inventory of the Cultural Property of the Maltese Islands|access-date=15 July 2015|date=28 June 2013}} and Casa Leoni in Santa Venera (1730).{{cite web|title=Locality Information|url=http://www.lc.gov.mt/Page.aspx?catid=51&pid=189&lid=1|website=lc.gov.mt|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151119184415/http://www.lc.gov.mt/Page.aspx?catid=51&pid=189&lid=1|archive-date=19 November 2015}}

File:Natural History Museum Mdina (6810109710).jpg 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).{{cite journal|last1=De Lucca|first1=Denis|title=Mdina: Mondion's master plan for the old city|journal=Heritage: An Encyclopedia of Maltese Culture and Civilization|date=1979|volume=1|pages=53–56|publisher=Midsea Books Ltd}}

File:Castellania facade malta.png, designed by Francesco Zerafa]]

High Baroque 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).{{cite journal|journal=Journal of the Malta Historical Society|last=Thake|first=Conrad Gerald|date=1994|title=Architectural Scenography in 18th-Century Mdina|url=http://mhs.eu.pn/hw/hw19945.html|publisher=Melita Historica|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160301150018/http://mhs.eu.pn/hw/hw19945.html|archive-date=1 March 2016}} 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,{{cite web|title=Il-Palazzi tal-Belt Valletta|url=http://www.airmalta.com/destinazzjonijiet/malta-mt-mt/best-of-malta-mt-mt/valletta-mt-mt/palaces-of-valletta-mt-mt|website=Air Malta|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160617054426/http://www.airmalta.com/destinazzjonijiet/malta-mt-mt/best-of-malta-mt-mt/valletta-mt-mt/palaces-of-valletta-mt-mt|archive-date=17 June 2016|language=mt}} and it is regarded as the most monumental Baroque building in Malta.

Nineteenth, twentieth and twenty-first centuries

File:Malta - Mellieha - Misrah il-Parocca+Parish Church 06 ies.jpg, 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.{{cite book|last1=Muscat|first1=Mark Geoffrey|title=Maltese Architecture 1900–1970: Progress and Innovations|date=2016|publisher=Fondazzjoni Patrimonju Malti|location=Valletta|isbn=9789990932065|page=xiii}} 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, such as Casa Nasciaro.{{Cite news|title=Baroque Naxxar Townhouse|publisher=Times of Malta|url=http://www.timesofmalta.com/articles/view/20120412/environment/Baroque-Naxxar-townhouse.415078 |date=12 April 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151120214041/http://www.timesofmalta.com/articles/view/20120412/environment/Baroque-Naxxar-townhouse.415078|archive-date=20 November 2015}}

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){{cite web|title=Places Of Interest|url=http://exploremellieha.com/placesofinterest|website=Explore Mellieha|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150827093655/http://exploremellieha.com/placesofinterest|archive-date=27 August 2015}} 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.{{cite news|title=St Venera To inaugurate new Lm600,000 church on Sunday|url=http://www.independent.com.mt/articles/2005-07-14/news/st-venera-to-inaugurate-new-lm600000-church-on-sunday-77910/|work=The Malta Independent|date=14 July 2005|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160723115607/http://www.independent.com.mt/articles/2005-07-14/news/st-venera-to-inaugurate-new-lm600000-church-on-sunday-77910/|archive-date=23 July 2016}}

Historian Giovanni Bonello ranks Maltese Baroque as one of the three "treasures" of Maltese architecture, along with the megalithic temples and the fortifications.{{cite news|last1=Bonello|first1=Giovanni|author-link1=Giovanni Bonello|title=Let's hide the majestic bastions|url=http://www.timesofmalta.com/articles/view/20121118/life-features/Let-s-hide-the-majestic-bastions.445894|work=Times of Malta|date=18 November 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304000315/http://www.timesofmalta.com/articles/view/20121118/life-features/Let-s-hide-the-majestic-bastions.445894|archive-date=4 March 2016}}

References

Category:Baroque architectural styles

Baroque