Influences of the Spanish Plateresque on Maltese ecclesiastical architecture

Abstract

Most historical accounts of Maltese architecture during the rule of the Order of St John (1530–1798) have to date focused almost exclusively on the influences of contemporary Italian and French architects. This is to be expected, as it is the natural outcome of the direct involvement of a number of Italian and French architects and military engineers who were engaged by the Order to oversee the design and construction of the island’s fortifications. However, given the historical influence exerted by the Aragonese prior to the arrival of the Order and, subsequently, the seminal political influences of both langues of Castile and Aragon during the Hospitaller period, it is worthwhile to explore any tentative relations and historical synergy that could be traced between Spanish and Maltese architecture. Back in 1967, during the ‘XV Congress on Architectural History’, the Spanish historian Adolfo Florensa had presented a brief paper entitled ‘L’Architettura di Spagna a Malta’, as part of the theme ‘Architecture in Malta from prehistory to the 19th century’. Almost half a century later, it is useful to revisit some of the observations made by Florensa and explore further with a view to establishing the extent and type of relationship, direct or otherwise, which one could draw between Spanish and Maltese architecture with reference to the period of the knights. The main focus of this brief communication is to analyse the possible influences of the Spanish Plateresque with reference to Maltese ecclestiastic architecture, specifically the churches designed by the Maltese architect Tumas Dingli (1591–1666).