(b Vittoriosa, nr Mdina, 1638; d Rome, before 10 Sept 1667). Maltese sculptor and draughtsman active in Italy. He was the son of Marco Caffa, and his elder brother Lorenzo (1630–1710) was an architect. Melchiorre Caffa was the most significant figure in Italian Baroque sculpture in the generation after Gianlorenzo Bernini, his small but artistically important output marking the beginnings of the late Baroque period. He had completed very few of his works before his early death in a foundry accident.

• Caffa, Melchiorre
  • Malta, §III, 3: Middle Ages and after: Sculpture
  • Rome, §III, 5(ii): Art life and organization, 1601–1700: Patronage and collections
  • assistants
    • Mazzuoli: (1) Giuseppe Mazzuoli
  • collaboration
    • Baratta: (2) Giovanni Maria Baratta
    • Stucco and plasterwork, §III, 10(i)(a): Western world, 1400–1850: Italy
  • teachers
    • Algardi, Alessandro, §1(i)(d): Subject sculpture: 1644–54
    • Algardi, Alessandro, §3: Posthumous influence and reputation
    • Ferrata, Ercole
  • works
    • Italy, §IV, 4(i): Baroque sculpture, c 1600–c 1750: Rome