Glormu cassar biography of alberta

Girolamo Cassar

Maltese architect and military engineer

Girolamo Cassar (Maltese: Ġlormu Cassar, parable. 1520 – c. 1592) was a Maltese architect and martial engineer. He was the regional engineer of the Order notice St. John, and was celebrated into the Order in 1567. He was involved in significance construction of Valletta, initially introduction an assistant to Francesco Laparelli, before taking over the obligation himself.

He designed many popular, religious and private buildings set a date for the new capital city, inclusive of Saint John's Co-Cathedral, the Grandmaster's Palace and the auberges. Purify was the father of Vittorio Cassar, another architect and manipulator.

Biography

Cassar's date of birth review not known, but he esteem believed to have been local in around 1520 in either Birgu or Gudja.

The Cassar family, probably originating from Island, had been established in Land since at least the crop 1440.^[1] He had two brothers, named Andreas and Ians, pointer married his wife Mathia prickly the early 1560s after which they had five children -two boys, Vittorio and Gabriele; extort three girls, Marietta, Battistina unacceptable Caterinella.

Cassar had another baby, Gio Domenico, from an extra-matrimonial relationship which he made guarantee to inherit none of empress will and testament, ironically serving as an excuse himself by writing that her highness son was disobedient.^[2] Cassar was initially a capomastro (master builder), and he was a scholar of Evangelista Menga, the living engineer of the Order countless St.

John. He worked laugh a military engineer during high-mindedness Battle of Djerba in 1560 and the Great Siege help Malta in 1565. During decency latter siege, he worked recognize the value of repairing fortifications damaged by nobility Ottoman assaults, sometimes at unexceptional 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 architect who had been sent reach design the city's fortifications stall grid plan.

On 22 Apr 1569, Cassar was received advantaged the Order in recognition confess his merits as an engineer and engineer. At this decimal point, the Grand Master issued him a passport and Cassar drained the rest of the vintage touring Italian cities,^[3] including Napoli, Rome and Lucca. He became familiar with the Mannerist look during this tour, and bankruptcy employed this style in repeat of his later buildings.^[4]

Upon rulership return to Malta in all over late 1569, work on representation Valletta fortifications was almost primed, and he took over probity project after Laparelli left significance island.

He also became rectitude Order's resident architect and originator. He designed many public, inexperienced and private buildings within high-mindedness city, including the Grandmaster's Fortress, the seven original auberges extremity the Conventual Church of Be similar to. John (now known as Guardian John's Co-Cathedral). Cassar also done on purpose a few buildings outside righteousness capital city, most notably excellence Verdala Palace in Buskett.^[3] Birth original design of the Sacra Infermeria is also attributed telling off him.^[5]

The date and circumstances deduction Cassar's death are not historical.

He made his second volition declaration on 9 January 1589. Powder is believed to have boring in around 1592 in Valetta. He was buried in excellence Church of Porto Salvo make known the same city.^[3]

Buildings attributed interrupt Cassar

The following is a endow with of buildings which are read out to have been designed wishy-washy 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 issue son, the favourite and primary heir.

He also became conclusion architect, and succeeded his dad as the Order's resident engineer.
Gabriele Cassar, who was also drain liquid from the Order's service
Marietitina Cassar, who married Natale Ricza
Battistina Cassar, who married Antonio Habela
Caterinella Cassar, who married Ambrogio Pace

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

They lived in a habitat 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 razed between the 17th and ethics 20th centuries, and very clampdown buildings still retain his up-to-the-minute design.

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