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Maltese Baroque architecture is the form ofBaroque architecture that developed inMalta during the 17th and 18th centuries, when the islands wereunder the rule of theOrder of St. John.[1] The Baroque style was introduced in Malta in the early 17th century, possibly by the Bolognese engineerBontadino de Bontadini during the construction of theWignacourt 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 asAuberge de Castille were constructed.
The Baroque style began to be replaced byneoclassical architecture and other styles in the early 19th century, when Malta was underBritish rule. Despite this, Baroque elements continued to influence traditionalMaltese 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.[2]
Prior to the introduction of the Baroque style in Malta, the predominant architectural style on the island wasMannerist architecture, a variant ofRenaissance architecture which was popularized in Malta in around the mid-16th century.[3] The most notable Mannerist architect in Malta wasGirolamo Cassar, who designed many public, private and religious buildings in the then-newly built capital cityValletta. Cassar's style was somewhat austere, and many of his buildings were reminiscent of military architecture.[4] 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 beenLorenzo Gafa who ignited the new style.[5]
According to historianGiovanni Bonello, the Baroque style was probably introduced in Malta by the Bolognese architect and engineerBontadino de Bontadini in the beginning of the 17th century. In July 1612, Bontadini was entrusted with the construction of theWignacourt Aqueduct, a project which was completed on 21 April 1615. The aqueduct's decorative elements, namely theWignacourt Arch, threewater towers andseveral fountains, are probably the earliest representations of the Baroque style in Malta.[6]
However, according toLeonard Mahoney, it wasFrancesco Buonamici who introduced Baroque architecture in Malta.[7] In either case Buonamici is accredited for popularizing Baroque after he designed theChurch of the Jesuits inValletta in 1635.[8]Romano Fortunato Carapecchia has managed to transform Valletta from a mainly Mannerist style to a significant Baroque style.[9] In the subsequent decades, many new Baroque buildings began to be constructed by theOrder of St. John, while some existing buildings were redecorated or given new façades. Early examples of Maltese Baroque buildings includeAuberge de Provence (renovated 1638) andHostel de Verdelin (c. 1650s). Most Baroque buildings in Malta were influenced byItalian orFrench Baroque architecture, but a few have characteristics typical of theSpanish Baroque.[10]
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.[8] One of the most well-known and influential architects of Maltese Baroque wasLorenzo Gafà, who designed many churches between the 1660s and the 1690s. Gafà's masterpiece isSt. Paul's Cathedral inMdina, which was rebuilt between 1696 and 1705 after the original medieval cathedral was damaged in the1693 Sicily earthquake. Other notable Baroque churches designed by Gafà include theChurch of St. Lawrence inBirgu (1681–97) and theCathedral of the Assumption inVictoria, Gozo (1697–1711).[11]
Meanwhile, many existing churches were redecorated in the Baroque style. The interior ofSaint John's Co-Cathedral, then the Order's conventual church, was extensively embellished in the 1660s by the Calabrian artistMattia Preti, although the Mannerist exterior was retained.[12]
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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 theBanca Giuratale in Valletta (1721),[13]Fort Manoel inGżira (1723–33)[14] andCasa Leoni inSanta Venera (1730).[15]
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An example of Baroque town planning wasCharles 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 MasterAntónio 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 theMain Gate (1724), the portal ofGreeks Gate (1724), theTorre dello Standardo (1725),Palazzo Vilhena (1726–28), theBanca Giuratale (1726–28) and theCorte Capitanale (1726–28).[16]
High Baroque was popular throughout the magistracy ofManuel Pinto da Fonseca, and buildings constructed during his reign includeAuberge de Castille (1741–45), thePinto Stores (1752) and theCastellania (1757–60).[17] Auberge de Castille was designed by the Maltese architectAndrea 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,[18] and it is regarded as the most monumental Baroque building in Malta.[8]
Neoclassical architecture and otherarchitectural styles were introduced in Malta in the late 18th century, and they were popularized when the island was underBritish rule in the early decades of the 19th century.[19] 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,[8] such asCasa Nasciaro.[20]
The Baroque style remained the predominant style for most Maltese churches throughout the 19th and most of the 20th centuries. Examples of these include theMellieħa Parish Church (1881–98)[21] and theRotunda of Xewkija (1952–78). A few churches built in the 21st century still include significant Baroque elements, such as theSanta Venera Parish Church which was constructed between 1990 and 2005.[22]
HistorianGiovanni Bonello ranks Maltese Baroque as one of the three "treasures" of Maltese architecture, along with themegalithic temples and thefortifications.[23]
