Pietro Paolo Troisi (29 June 1686 – March or April 1743) was a Maltese Baroque silversmith, sculptor, medallist, designer, engraver and Master of the Mint. His works include bronze sculptures of his patron António Manoel de Vilhena, designs of various coins and medals, a wide range of mainly religious works in silver, engraved portraits, designs for temporary triumphal arches and designs for works in a number of churches, most notably the altar of repose at the Mdina cathedral.
Pietro Paolo Troisi was the son of Carlo Antonio Troisi and Ninfa née Bison, and he was the second of eight or nine children. His family was probably of Sicilian descent. He was born in Valletta on 29 June 1686, and he was baptised at the Porto Salvo parish church on 2 July.
Troisi's first training was at his father's bottega in Malta. Between 1704 and 1705, Troisi studied at the Accademia di San Luca in Rome, on the recommendation of Grand Master Ramon Perellos y Roccaful. He is the second known Maltese artist to have been admitted into the academy, after Melchiorre Cafà. While in Rome, he joined the bottega of the sculptor Pietro Papaleo. Due to his talent, he was promoted to the advanced students' class, and in 1705 he and Antonio Arrighi won first prize in a competition with a religious subject, the Concorso Clementino Prima Classe.
Upon his return to Malta, Troisi made a name for himself as a successful artist in multiple genres. He was a silversmith, medallist, bronze sculptor, portraitist, designer and scenographer. He made designs for works which were carried out by other artisans, and although he was also given the title of architetto, he does not seem to have designed buildings. He also taught drawing of nude figures, and he co-founded a school of design and painting at the Mint in Valletta together with Marc'Antonio Zondadari (who would later become Grand Master of the Order of St John). Troisi was patronised by Zondadari's successor, António Manoel de Vilhena, who seems to have held him in high esteem. Throughout his career, Troisi collaborated with a number of Maltese sculptors and stone carvers such as Pietro Paolo Zahra and the Fabri brothers.
His father was the Master of the Mint of the Order, and Troisi also worked as his assistant. In April 1714, he petitioned Perellos to take his father's place, but remained an assistant until he finally became Master of the Mint in 1736. He retained the post until his death.
Troisi was a member of the Confraternity of Our Lady of Mount Carmel in the Carmelite church in Valletta from at least 1713 to his death, and at times he was appointed as the Confraternity's secretary, treasurer or rector.
Troisi married Magdalena Marcella Desira, a woman from Senglea, on 26 August 1716. They had five children: Philippus, Xaveria, Veronica, Gaetanus (later known as Gioacchino) and Paola (who died in infancy). Troisi drew up his will on 27 March 1743, and he died soon afterwards, either in late March or early April, at the age of 56. In his will he wished to be buried at the Carmelite church in Valletta. His wife Magdalena died in January 1758.
Triumphal arches for Zondadari and Vilhena
Troisi designed two temporary triumphal arches for the possesso ceremonies of 1720 and 1722. This was a celebration held at Mdina on the occasion of the election of a new Grand Master, in which officials of the city's Università would present the keys of the city to the new Grand Master. For the occasion, a temporary triumphal arch made out of wood would be built near the Banca Giuratale, and it would be dismantled shortly afterwards.
When Zondadari was elected Grand Master, Troisi was one of four artists who were invited to submit designs of the triumphal arch. Troisi's design was chosen, and the ceremony was held on 30 June 1720. Zondadari was succeeded by Vilhena in 1722, and Troisi was once again commissioned to design a triumphal arch which was to be made by remodelling the 1720 arch. Troisi made the designs and supervised its construction, while the woodwork was done by Andrea Camilleri and the painting was renewed by Aloisio Buhagiar. Vilhena's possesso was held on 20 September 1722.
Drawings of both arches still survive, and they were built in three tiers with a central coffered doorway. The arches depicted the emblems of the Università and the Grand Master along with a variety of military paraphernalia, while Vilhena's arch also contained his portrait and symbols of the Kingdom of Sicily.
Altar of repose at the Mdina cathedral
In 1727, Troisi was commissioned by Canon Gourgion on behalf of the Metropolitan Chapter to design an altar of repose for St Paul's Cathedral in Mdina. This is a moveable chapel intended for the exposition of the Eucharist on Maundy Thursday, and it is erected annually during Holy Week. Troisi was paid 5 scudi for his design, but other artists were also invited to submit their designs and the altar was not built during Troisi's lifetime. However, in 1751 the Chapter decided to build the altar and Troisi's design was chosen. The altar was built by Francesco Zahra and it was inaugurated in 1752.
The chapel consists of a triumphal arch-like portico with stairs leading to a circular space which contains a partial dome and richly decorated walls. A silver capsure made by Giovanni Andrea Troisi (Pietro Paolo's brother) and Annetto Pullicino serves as the centrepiece of the altar.
Troisi engraved portraits of Grand Masters Zondadari and Vilhena in 1720 and 1724 respectively. The latter was published in the code of laws Leggi e costituzioni prammaticali.
He also made engravings on silverware, such as a dish depicting Victory over Land and Sea which was commissioned as a gift on the occasion of a marriage between the Pallavicini and Spinola families.
Troisi made a number of bronze busts depicting Grand Master Vilhena. He is known to have made two busts located at the Magisterial Palace and the Banca Giuratale in Mdina; the latter is now found at the Manoel Theatre museum. Other portraits of the Grand Master such as a tondo relief at the Magisterial Palace, and busts at the Franciscan convent in Valletta, the Conservatorio in Floriana and the Chancery in Valletta are also stylistically attributed to Troisi, although there is no documentary evidence of this.
The design of a life-size statue of Vilhena which was commissioned by the knight Felician de Savasse in 1734 is also attributed to Troisi. The statue was cast in bronze by Louis Bouchet, and it was installed in the piazza of Fort Manoel in 1736. The statue was relocated multiple times after 1858, and it is presently located in Pope John XXIII Square in Floriana.