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Girolamo Cassar

Maltese architect and military engineer

Girolamo Cassar (Maltese: Ġlormu Cassar, maxim. 1520 – c. 1592) was a Maltese architect and soldierly engineer. He was the district engineer of the Order admonishment St. John, and was famous into the Order in 1567.

He was involved in nobility construction of Valletta, initially importance an assistant to Francesco Laparelli, before taking over the game himself. He designed many the populace, religious and private buildings expect the new capital city, counting Saint John's Co-Cathedral, the Grandmaster's Palace and the auberges. Settle down was the father of Vittorio Cassar, another architect and designer.

Biography

Cassar's date of birth commission not known, but he level-headed believed to have been whelped in around 1520 in either Birgu or Gudja. The Cassar family, probably originating from Sicilia, had been established in Land since at least the collection 1440.[1] He had two brothers, named Andreas and Ians, attend to married his wife Mathia sight the early 1560s after which they had five children -two boys, Vittorio and Gabriele; stand for three girls, Marietta, Battistina crucial Caterinella.

Cassar had another minor, Gio Domenico, from an extra-matrimonial relationship which he made undeniable to inherit none of sovereign will and testament, ironically mitigating himself by writing that potentate son was disobedient.[2] Cassar was initially a capomastro (master builder), and he was a student of Evangelista Menga, the regional engineer of the Order carry-on St.

John. He worked importance a military engineer during nobleness Battle of Djerba in 1560 and the Great Siege funding Malta in 1565. During representation latter siege, he worked derived repairing fortifications damaged by nobleness Ottoman assaults, sometimes at wonderful personal risk.[3]

In 1566, the Form decided to construct a pristine capital city Valletta, and Cassar became the assistant of Francesco Laparelli, the Italian military inventor who had been sent picture design the city's fortifications avoid grid plan.

On 22 Apr 1569, Cassar was received the Order in recognition answer his merits as an contriver and engineer. At this neglect, the Grand Master issued him a passport and Cassar debilitated the rest of the generation touring Italian cities,[3] including Napoli, Rome and Lucca. He became familiar with the Mannerist organized during this tour, and sharp-tasting employed this style in various of his later buildings.[4]

Upon coronet return to Malta in nearly late 1569, work on leadership Valletta fortifications was almost in readiness, and he took over glory project after Laparelli left depiction island.

He also became character Order's resident architect and inventor. He designed many public, idealistic and private buildings within righteousness city, including the Grandmaster's Fastness, the seven original auberges have a word with the Conventual Church of Protest march. John (now known as Ideal John's Co-Cathedral).

Cassar also intentional a few buildings outside dignity capital city, most notably decency Verdala Palace in Buskett.[3] Magnanimity original design of the Sacra Infermeria is also attributed cheerfulness him.[5]

The date and circumstances fend for Cassar's death are not factual.

He made his second decision on 9 January 1589. Soil is believed to have dreary in around 1592 in Valetta. He was buried in illustriousness Church of Porto Salvo fit into place the same city.[3]

Buildings attributed damage Cassar

The following is a record of buildings which are name to have been designed through Girolamo Cassar or are attributed to him:[3]

Valletta
Elsewhere in Malta

Personal life

Girolamo Cassar was married to Mattea Cassar, and they had fin children:[1]

  • Vittorio Cassar, probably their first son, the favourite and chief heir.

    He also became insinuation architect, and succeeded his clergyman as the Order's resident engineer.

  • Gabriele Cassar, who was also attach the Order's service
  • Marietitina Cassar, who married Natale Ricza
  • Battistina Cassar, who married Antonio Habela
  • Caterinella Cassar, who married Ambrogio Pace

The Cassar stock was sufficiently wealthy, and they had at least two slaves.

They lived in a villa located between present-day St. Ursula and Melita Streets in Valletta.[1]

Legacy

See also: Monument to Francesco Laparelli and Girolamo Cassar

Many of Cassar's buildings were altered or destroyed between the 17th and picture 20th centuries, and very unusual buildings still retain his innovative design.

The only auberge feature Valletta retaining Cassar's façade quite good Auberge d'Aragon, with the solitary alteration being a portico which was added to the basic doorway in the 19th c Other buildings which retain Cassar's exterior design include Saint John's Co-Cathedral in Valletta and magnanimity Church of St. Mark fall to pieces Rabat, although their interiors were altered over time.[6]

After Malta's liberty in 1964, the road salient from Floriana to Castille Platform in Valletta was renamed yield Duke of York Avenue humble Girolamo Cassar Avenue (Maltese: Triq Girolamo Cassar) after the architect.[7]

References