Lorenzo Gafà | |
|---|---|
 Bust of Lorenzo Gafà, possibly by his brotherMelchiorre | |
| Born | 1639 |
| Died | 16 February 1703 (aged 64) |
| Nationality | Maltese |
| Occupation | Architect |
| Notable work | St. Paul's Cathedral, Mdina and many other churches |
| Style | Baroque |
| Parents |
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| Relatives | Melchiorre Cafà (brother) |
Lorenzo Gafà (1639–1703) was aMalteseBaroque architect and sculptor. He designed many churches in the Maltese Islands, includingSt. Paul's Cathedral inMdina and theCathedral of the Assumption inVictoria, Gozo. He was the younger brother of the sculptorMelchiorre Cafà.
Gafà was born in 1639 inBirgu, to the stone carver Marco Gafà and his wife Veronica. He began his working life as a stone carver with his father and his older brotherMelchiorre, who became a renowned sculptor. He might have studied architecture inRome, although there is no documentary evidence that he ever left Malta.[1] It is possible that Gafà was an apprentice of the Italian architectFrancesco Buonamici while the latter lived in Malta.[2]
By the early 1660s he had developed a strong interest in architectural design and in 1661 is known to have been involved in the choir of theChurch of St. Philip inŻebbuġ. Sometime before 1666, he worked on thereredos of the main altar in the church of Sta Scolastica and in the Dominican church of the Annunciation, both in his native town of Birgu. He is also known to have designed the altar of theChurch of St. Nicholas inValletta. He also designed or was involved in the construction of the following churches:[1]
Some sources also state that Gafà was involved in the construction of theChurch of St. Catherine inŻurrieq (1632–55), the Church of Our Saviour inKalkara (1650), the Church of St. Mary in Żebbuġ (1683), the Church of the Holy Spirit in Żejtun (1688), the Church of the Holy Spirit in Mdina (1688), the choir of theChurch of the Nativity of Mary inNaxxar (1691), the Church of the Annunciation inTarxien (1692), the Church of St. Nicholas in Mdina (1692), the Church of St. Agatha in Mdina (1694) and the Church of St. Julian inSenglea (1696).[1]
In 1679, Gafà designed and oversaw the construction of thechoir ofSt. Paul's Cathedral in Mdina, and he later designed theBishop's Palace. The cathedral was partially destroyed a few years later during the1693 Sicily earthquake, although the newly built choir remained intact. The old cathedral was dismantled, and between 1696 and 1705 a new cathedral was built to Gafà's Baroque designs. The cathedral was consecrated on 8 October 1702, and it is regarded as Gafà's masterpiece.[3]
Gafà also designed some secular buildings, includingVilla Bichi (1675), the palace of the General of the Galleys in Birgu (before 1695) and possibly the Ta' Saura hospital in Rabat (1655).[1]
Gafà died on 16 February 1703 at the age of 64.[4]
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