National Museum of Fine Arts (Malta)
Encyclopedia
The National Museum of Fine Arts is Malta’s
major museum for the visual arts
. It houses a collection of works by Maltese and foreign artists mainly representing the major European artistic styles
.
The museum is located in the capital city of Valletta
, in a palace at the lower end of South Street. The area is the seat of fine historical palaces dating from the times of the Order of St John of Jerusalem
that are now used by government ministries and departments. It is also well known for its wine bars and cafes, and views of the city's grid-shaped streets which visitors usually explore on their way to the museum.
The museum is managed by Heritage Malta
.
palace in the 1760s for use by the Knight of Malta Ramon de Sousa y Silva, a wealthy Portuguese knight of the Order of St John who used it as his private home.
During the early 19th century the palace was home for a brief time to Louis Charles of Orleans, Comte de Beaujolais, a relative of the King of France.
In the 1820s the building became Admiralty House and the seat of the Commander-in Chief of the British Mediterranean Fleet. It hosted such high-ranking personalities as Lord Louis Mountbatten of Burma
, Winston Churchill
, King George V and Queen Elizabeth II amongst other high-profile personalities.
The palace was officially inaugurated as the National Museum of Fine Arts in 1974 after the Fine Arts Collection was moved from the Auberge de Provence to make space for the National Museum of Archaeology
.
and Italy
. Most were purchased at a time when prices in the art market where still within reach of the museum's modest budget. Public spirited individuals and organizations also left significant bequests.
The permanent display includes the largest collection of paintings by the Southern Italian Baroque artist Mattia Preti
(1613–1699), an Italian Knight of the Order of Malta who also contributed to the transformation of the interior of St. John’s Co-Cathedral, Valletta. This, together with a fine and rare collection of antique maps, represents one of the strengths of the collection.
The works of other artists on display include Guido Reni
(1575–1642), the Caravaggisti
Valentin de Boulogne
(1591–1632), Giuseppe Ribera (1591–1662) and Matthias Stom
(1600–1652), as well as Carlo Maratta
(1625–1713) and Bernardo Strozzi
(1581–1644). Works by Dutch, French and British artists are also on permanent display.
The collection also includes the works of two outstanding Maltese sculptors, Melchiorre Cafá (1636–1667) and Antonio Sciortino
(1879–1947), and a noteworthy group of Maltese landscapes. The Grand Harbour
of Malta and its environs is the subject of a Joseph Mallord William Turner watercolour on permanent loan from HSBC Bank Malta
(1775–1851). Other works by Edward Lear
(1812–1888), Louis Ducros (1748–1810) and local artists representing the same subject are also on display.
, as well as majolica
jars mainly of Sicilian
production. Many of the jars were in use at the Sacra Infermaria, the Hospital of the Order of St John. Ecclesiastical silverware is also on display, including a rare fifteenth century chalice
of Parisian workmanship.
A very popular event launched in 2009 is Art & Wine @ South street. It features contemporary artists in dialogue with works of art from the museum's permanent display.
Other conservation and maintenance works are also being planned.
Malta
Malta , officially known as the Republic of Malta , is a Southern European country consisting of an archipelago situated in the centre of the Mediterranean, south of Sicily, east of Tunisia and north of Libya, with Gibraltar to the west and Alexandria to the east.Malta covers just over in...
major museum for the visual arts
Visual arts
The visual arts are art forms that create works which are primarily visual in nature, such as ceramics, drawing, painting, sculpture, printmaking, design, crafts, and often modern visual arts and architecture...
. It houses a collection of works by Maltese and foreign artists mainly representing the major European artistic styles
Western art history
Western art is the art of the North American and European countries, and art created in the forms accepted by those countries.Written histories of Western art often begin with the art of the Ancient Middle East, Ancient Egypt and the Ancient Aegean civilisations, dating from the 3rd millennium BC...
.
The museum is located in the capital city of Valletta
Valletta
Valletta is the capital of Malta, colloquially known as Il-Belt in Maltese. It is located in the central-eastern portion of the island of Malta, and the historical city has a population of 6,098. The name "Valletta" is traditionally reserved for the historic walled citadel that serves as Malta's...
, in a palace at the lower end of South Street. The area is the seat of fine historical palaces dating from the times of the Order of St John of Jerusalem
Knights Hospitaller
The Sovereign Military Hospitaller Order of Saint John of Jerusalem of Rhodes and of Malta , also known as the Sovereign Military Order of Malta , Order of Malta or Knights of Malta, is a Roman Catholic lay religious order, traditionally of military, chivalrous, noble nature. It is the world's...
that are now used by government ministries and departments. It is also well known for its wine bars and cafes, and views of the city's grid-shaped streets which visitors usually explore on their way to the museum.
The museum is managed by Heritage Malta
Heritage Malta
Heritage Malta is the Maltese national agency for museums, conservation practice and cultural heritage. Created by the Cultural Heritage Act, enacted in 2002, the national agency replaced the former Museums Department....
.
Building
The building, originally one of the oldest in Valletta, was largely rebuilt into a RococoRococo
Rococo , also referred to as "Late Baroque", is an 18th-century style which developed as Baroque artists gave up their symmetry and became increasingly ornate, florid, and playful...
palace in the 1760s for use by the Knight of Malta Ramon de Sousa y Silva, a wealthy Portuguese knight of the Order of St John who used it as his private home.
During the early 19th century the palace was home for a brief time to Louis Charles of Orleans, Comte de Beaujolais, a relative of the King of France.
In the 1820s the building became Admiralty House and the seat of the Commander-in Chief of the British Mediterranean Fleet. It hosted such high-ranking personalities as Lord Louis Mountbatten of Burma
Louis Mountbatten, 1st Earl Mountbatten of Burma
Admiral of the Fleet Louis Francis Albert Victor Nicholas George Mountbatten, 1st Earl Mountbatten of Burma, KG, GCB, OM, GCSI, GCIE, GCVO, DSO, PC, FRS , was a British statesman and naval officer, and an uncle of Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh...
, Winston Churchill
Winston Churchill
Sir Winston Leonard Spencer-Churchill, was a predominantly Conservative British politician and statesman known for his leadership of the United Kingdom during the Second World War. He is widely regarded as one of the greatest wartime leaders of the century and served as Prime Minister twice...
, King George V and Queen Elizabeth II amongst other high-profile personalities.
The palace was officially inaugurated as the National Museum of Fine Arts in 1974 after the Fine Arts Collection was moved from the Auberge de Provence to make space for the National Museum of Archaeology
National Museum of Archaeology, Malta
The National Museum of Archaeology is a a Maltese museum of prehistoric artifacts, located in Valetta. It is managed by Heritage Malta.History=...
.
Fine arts collection
The museum houses the major part of the national collection of Malta. The collection began in 1923 when the first fine arts curator, Vincenzo Bonello, embarked on establishing a collection within what was then called the National Museum. Bonello acquired numerous works of excellent quality on the local art market, and in LondonLondon
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
and Italy
Italy
Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
. Most were purchased at a time when prices in the art market where still within reach of the museum's modest budget. Public spirited individuals and organizations also left significant bequests.
The permanent display includes the largest collection of paintings by the Southern Italian Baroque artist Mattia Preti
Mattia Preti
Mattia Preti was an Italian Baroque artist who worked in Italy and Malta.- Biography :Born in the small town of Taverna in Calabria, Preti was sometimes called Il Cavalier Calabrese...
(1613–1699), an Italian Knight of the Order of Malta who also contributed to the transformation of the interior of St. John’s Co-Cathedral, Valletta. This, together with a fine and rare collection of antique maps, represents one of the strengths of the collection.
The works of other artists on display include Guido Reni
Guido Reni
Guido Reni was an Italian painter of high-Baroque style.-Biography:Born in Bologna into a family of musicians, Guido Reni was the son of Daniele Reni and Ginevra de’ Pozzi. As a child of nine, he was apprenticed under the Bolognese studio of Denis Calvaert. Soon after, he was joined in that...
(1575–1642), the Caravaggisti
Caravaggisti
The Caravaggisti were stylistic followers of the 16th century Italian Baroque painter Michelangelo Merisi da Caravaggio. His influence on the new Baroque style that eventually emerged from Mannerism was profound. Caravaggio never established a workshop as most other painters did, and thus had no...
Valentin de Boulogne
Valentin de Boulogne
Valentin de Boulogne , sometimes referred to as Le Valentin, was a French painter.-Origins:Valentin was born in Coulommiers, France, where he was baptised in the parish of Saint-Denys on January 3, 1591, making 1590 his likely year of birth...
(1591–1632), Giuseppe Ribera (1591–1662) and Matthias Stom
Matthias Stom
Matthias Stom or Matthias Stomer was a Dutch golden age painter, considered being one of the masters of the Utrecht Caravaggism. Besides Stom and Stomer he has been referred to as Matthias Stohom / Stomma, Matheo Schem and Matteo Tomar...
(1600–1652), as well as Carlo Maratta
Carlo Maratta
Carlo Maratta or Maratti was an Italian painter, active mostly in Rome, and known principally for his classicizing paintings executed in a Late Baroque Classical manner. Although he is part of the classical tradition stemming from Raphael, he was not exempt from the influence of Baroque painting...
(1625–1713) and Bernardo Strozzi
Bernardo Strozzi
Bernardo Strozzi was a prominent and prolific Italian Baroque painter born and active mainly in Genoa, and also active in Venice.-Biography:Strozzi was born in Genoa. He was probably not related to the other Strozzi family....
(1581–1644). Works by Dutch, French and British artists are also on permanent display.
The collection also includes the works of two outstanding Maltese sculptors, Melchiorre Cafá (1636–1667) and Antonio Sciortino
Antonio Sciortino
Antonio Sciortino was a Maltese sculptor whose work reflects several artistic movements, including Realism and Futurism, as well as the influence of Auguste Rodin. He studied and worked in Rome. He developed an original style which drew the admiration of many and brought him commissions in...
(1879–1947), and a noteworthy group of Maltese landscapes. The Grand Harbour
Grand Harbour
Grand Harbour is a natural harbour on the island of Malta. It has been used as a harbour since at least Phoenician times...
of Malta and its environs is the subject of a Joseph Mallord William Turner watercolour on permanent loan from HSBC Bank Malta
HSBC Bank
HSBC Bank may refer to any one of the following principal local banks for HSBC Group:- Americas :* HSBC Bank Argentina* HSBC Bank Brazil* HSBC Bank Canada* HSBC Bank Chile* HSBC Bank Costa Rica* HSBC Bank El Salvador* HSBC Bank Honduras...
(1775–1851). Other works by Edward Lear
Edward Lear
Edward Lear was an English artist, illustrator, author, and poet, renowned today primarily for his literary nonsense, in poetry and prose, and especially his limericks, a form that he popularised.-Biography:...
(1812–1888), Louis Ducros (1748–1810) and local artists representing the same subject are also on display.
Maltese furniture and silver
The museum exhibits a collection of Maltese furniture and silverwareSilver (household)
Household silver or silverware includes dishware, cutlery and other household items made of sterling, Britannia or Sheffield plate silver. The term is often extended to items made of stainless steel...
, as well as majolica
Majolica
Majolica, an English version of the Italian word maiolica, is a term covering a wide variety of European tin-glazed pottery, typically brightly painted over an opaque white background glaze, with an earthenware body....
jars mainly of Sicilian
Sicily
Sicily is a region of Italy, and is the largest island in the Mediterranean Sea. Along with the surrounding minor islands, it constitutes an autonomous region of Italy, the Regione Autonoma Siciliana Sicily has a rich and unique culture, especially with regard to the arts, music, literature,...
production. Many of the jars were in use at the Sacra Infermaria, the Hospital of the Order of St John. Ecclesiastical silverware is also on display, including a rare fifteenth century chalice
Chalice
A chalice is a goblet or footed cup intended to hold a drink. This can also refer to;* Holy Chalice, the vessel which Jesus used at the Last Supper to serve the wine* Chalice , a type of smoking pipe...
of Parisian workmanship.
Contemporary art and temporary exhibitions
The museum has a very active calendar of temporary exhibitions mainly by Maltese artists. Museum curated exhibitions have included the following:- Postage Stamp Artwork: Emvin Cremona (1919–1987) – Shaping a Modern Identity in Malta’s Philatelic Heritage (September–October 2010) showed original stamp artwork and graphic designs produced by Emvin Cremona, most of which were put on display for the first time.
- Pictures of the Floating World – Ukiyo-e Prints from the National Collection (December 2009) exhibited original Japanese Ukiyo-eUkiyo-e' is a genre of Japanese woodblock prints and paintings produced between the 17th and the 20th centuries, featuring motifs of landscapes, tales from history, the theatre, and pleasure quarters...
from the national collection.
- Victor Pasmore in Malta (December 2008 – January 2009) exhibited abstract works by the international British artist Victor PasmoreVictor PasmoreEdwin John Victor Pasmore was a British artist and architect. He pioneered the development of abstract art in Britain in the 1940s and 1950s.-Biography:...
from the museum collection and the Central Bank of MaltaCentral Bank of MaltaThe Central Bank of Malta was established on 17 April 1968. In May 2004, when Malta joined the European Union, it became an integral part of the European System of Central Banks. It was responsible for, amongst other things, issuing Maltese lira banknotes and coins, before Malta adopted the euro...
collection.
- The Maria Pasani Bequest (January – March 2008) exhibited eleven paintings by the Maltese artist Lazzaro Pisani donated by his daughter, Maria Pasani.
Popular events and outreach
The museum is a popular venue for lectures and book presentations held from time to time in its baroque galleries. It also has a educational programme the involves school children with treasure hunts and other hands-on activities.A very popular event launched in 2009 is Art & Wine @ South street. It features contemporary artists in dialogue with works of art from the museum's permanent display.
Projects
Restoration works are currently underway in the museum’s courtyard, called 'Il-Loggia'. Il-Loggia is a popular venue for exhibitions and events.Other conservation and maintenance works are also being planned.