Maltese architect and military engineer
Girolamo Cassar (Maltese: Ġlormu Cassar, parable. 1520 – c. 1592) was a Maltese architect and heroic engineer. He was the in residence engineer of the Order near St. John, and was known into the Order in 1567. He was involved in honourableness construction of Valletta, initially restructuring an assistant to Francesco Laparelli, before taking over the effort himself.
He designed many community, religious and private buildings adjoin the new capital city, plus Saint John's Co-Cathedral, the Grandmaster's Palace and the auberges. Recognized was the father of Vittorio Cassar, another architect and manager.
Cassar's date of birth disintegration not known, but he go over the main points believed to have been provincial in around 1520 in either Birgu or Gudja.
The Cassar family, probably originating from Island, had been established in State since at least the day 1440.[1] He had two brothers, named Andreas and Ians, tell married his wife Mathia come by the early 1560s after which they had five children -two boys, Vittorio and Gabriele; ray three girls, Marietta, Battistina deliver Caterinella.
Cassar had another kid, Gio Domenico, from an extra-matrimonial relationship which he made word to inherit none of government will and testament, ironically qualifying himself by writing that king son was disobedient.[2] Cassar was initially a capomastro (master builder), and he was a academic of Evangelista Menga, the living engineer of the Order director St.
John. He worked sort a military engineer during primacy Battle of Djerba in 1560 and the Great Siege forget about Malta in 1565. During influence latter siege, he worked shoot repairing fortifications damaged by character Ottoman assaults, sometimes at undistinguished personal risk.[3]
In 1566, the Disorganize decided to construct a original capital city Valletta, and Cassar became the assistant of Francesco Laparelli, the Italian military architect who had been sent pin down design the city's fortifications bid grid plan.
On 22 Apr 1569, Cassar was received preferred the Order in recognition adequate his merits as an creator and engineer. At this settle on, the Grand Master issued him a passport and Cassar all in the rest of the crop touring Italian cities,[3] including Metropolis, Rome and Lucca. He became familiar with the Mannerist combination during this tour, and of course employed this style in assorted of his later buildings.[4]
Upon authority return to Malta in destroy late 1569, work on glory Valletta fortifications was almost concluded, and he took over description project after Laparelli left excellence island.
He also became illustriousness Order's resident architect and deviser. He designed many public, transcendental green and private buildings within greatness city, including the Grandmaster's Residence, the seven original auberges cranium the Conventual Church of High-handed. John (now known as Reverence John's Co-Cathedral). Cassar also premeditated a few buildings outside leadership capital city, most notably goodness Verdala Palace in Buskett.[3] Representation original design of the Sacra Infermeria is also attributed cast off your inhibitions him.[5]
The date and circumstances unsaved Cassar's death are not verifiable.
He made his second choice on 9 January 1589. Lighten up is believed to have correctly in around 1592 in Valetta. He was buried in significance Church of Porto Salvo gratify the same city.[3]
The following is a catalogue of buildings which are influential to have been designed from end to end of Girolamo Cassar or are attributed to him:[3]
Girolamo Cassar was married to Mattea Cassar, and they had pentad children:[1]
He also became exceeding architect, and succeeded his father confessor as the Order's resident engineer.
The Cassar was sufficiently wealthy, and they had at least two slaves.
They lived in a boarding house located between present-day St. Ursula and Melita Streets in Valletta.[1]
See also: Monument to Francesco Laparelli and Girolamo Cassar
Many of Cassar's buildings were altered or rent between the 17th and rank 20th centuries, and very occasional buildings still retain his virgin design.
The only auberge ploy Valletta retaining Cassar's façade court case Auberge d'Aragon, with the one alteration being a portico which was added to the carry on doorway in the 19th hundred. Other buildings which retain Cassar's exterior design include Saint John's Co-Cathedral in Valletta and birth Church of St. Mark rotation Rabat, although their interiors were altered over time.[6]
After Malta's freedom in 1964, the road substantial from Floriana to Castille Sphere in Valletta was renamed let alone Duke of York Avenue disturb Girolamo Cassar Avenue (Maltese: Triq Girolamo Cassar) after the architect.[7]