Documentary about the Knights of St. John & The Crusades.
(part 1)
Posts Tagged: st. John’s co-cathedral
29
Jun 08
Caravaggio’s Masterpiece in Valletta – at St. John’s Co Cathedral
Commissioned by the Great Master of the Order of the Knights of Malta, Caravaggio’s Beheading of St John was made in 1608 for the chapel of the Co-Cathedral of St John in Valletta. It is the largest work the artist ever painted (12 feet x 17 feet) and the only one he ever signed.
The painting depicts the moment in Biblical history where St John is beheaded by King Herod to satisfy the blood lust of the seductive dancer, Salome. The scene is the courtyard of a prison and the grisly murder is observed by two other prisoners looking through a grille, while a young woman and an old crone stand ready to take the severed head and put it on the waiting platter. The blood flowing from St John’s neck drips towards the bottom of the frame and in its red stream, Caravaggio has signed his name.
On the oratory’s right wall hangs a smaller Caravaggio painting, St Jerome, which was stolen in 1984 and rescued in a dramatic operation a few months later. In it, an elderly man sits with a pen in his hand.
Caravaggio went to Malta to avoid the death penalty that had been inflicted on him after committing a murder in Rome and, with the bloodless body of Saint John, he seems to be portraying his victim’s and, at the same time, his own end. Many describe the painting as his masterwork.
28
Sep 07
Caravaggio A Visionary And Great Artist
CARAVAGGIO400 aims at celebrating Caravaggio’s presence in Malta through a number of coordinated events and initiatives over 2007 and 2008. Caravaggio400 is an umbrella term under which organisations have been invited to organise Caravaggio related events.
Each institution will be responsible for its own particular event, but the entire programme will be presented as a National Programme. The programme includes, among others, the issue of commemorative silver ingot and a commemorative coin, lectures and seminars by various international experts on the theme of Caravaggio, restoration projects by Caravaggio Foundation and Heritage Malta, an exhibition of representations in salt of six Caravaggio paintings on the Passion and Resurrection of Christ, an exhibition on Caravaggio and Caravaggisti, and an issue of commemorative stamps.
The institutions involved in organising such initiatives include St John’s Foundation, Heritage Malta, University of Malta, Lombard Bank, Caravaggio Foundation, Ministry for Education, Maltapost, Malta Police, the Malta Council for Culture and the Arts and the Ministry for Tourism and Culture. The Valletta Local Council, Valleta Rehabilitation Project(VRP), the Italian Embassy and Sovereign Military Order of Malta (SMOM) are collaborating on various initiatives. Caravaggio400 in itself is therefore not an event but a series of events organised under the Caravaggio400 ‘brand’.
Caravaggio400 is responsible for coordinating the National Calender of events. The Calendar will publicise a programme of wide participation in a variety of fields, both at a scholarly and popular level.
The Calendar is being co-ordinated by the Ministry for Tourism and Culture, the Malta Council for Culture and the Arts and the Caravaggio Foundation who came up with this initiative together with the support of the University of Malta. It will seek to ensure a spread of activities over the two years and also to minimise overlap while maintaining good quality. CARAVAGGIO400 therefore, is a national event in itself, intended for both local cultural enrichment and cultural tourism.
A new website including the national programme of Caravaggio400 events has also been launched. Its address is: www.caravaggio400.com
Caption: Dr Keith Sciberras, Dr Tonio Fenech, Minister Francis Zammit Dimech, HE Paolo Andrea Trabalza, Italian Ambassador, and Davinia Galea during the press conference on the launch of Caravaggio400 held at the Ministry for Tourism and Culture.
9
Sep 07
Caravaggio art treasures in Valletta – October
Nine of Caravaggio’s paintings will be flown to Malta from different galleries for a major exhibition to mark the enigmatic Italian painter’s 400th anniversary of his stay on the island.
These world art treasures will be on exhibit at Valletta’s National Museum of Archaeology and are the culmination of many months of hard work by Heritage Malta, in collaboration with Italy’s Romartificio.
The exhibition will also mark the 40th year from the signing of the cultural agreement between Malta and Italy, which was recently renewed until 2009.
On show will be works by Caravaggio that clearly portray the divine element; a series of world-famous paintings from major European and American collections have been put together for this event.
Heritage Malta chairman Mario Tabone said Malta possessed the only painting signed by the 17th century artist – the Beheading of St John – a situation that had given rise to numerous debates over which works were really Caravaggio’s.
“We have consulted numerous experts and artists on this matter of authenticity and I’m sure the debate will continue here,” Dr Tabone said during the exhibition’s press launch at the Le Meridien Phoenicia Hotel in Floriana.
The exhibition was launched by Culture Minister Francis Zammit Dimech in the presence of Romartificio president Roberto Celli and art historian Maurizio Marini.
The exhibition, titled Caravaggio: L’Immagine Del Divino, includes: The Sacrifice of Isaac, and St Francis In Ecstasy (both from the Piasecka-Johnson Collection, Princeton, New Jersey); St John the Baptist (Galleria Nazionale d’Arte Antica, Palazzo Corsini, Rome); Mary Magdalene In Ecstasy (private collection, Rome); St Francis (Museo Civico di Cremona); St Francis In Meditation (Galleria Nazionale d’Arte Antica, Palazzo Barberini, Rome); Sacrifice Of Isaac (private collection, Modena); Decapitation Of San Gennaro (Palestrina, Rome); and Ecstasy Of St Francis (Museo Civico di Udine, Italy).
Heritage Malta is also in the process of negotiating the possibility of including the painting titled Supper at Emmaus in the exhibition.
Parallel events relating to the Maltese period of Caravaggio and his influence on the art of the following generations will also be held.
An adjacent hall to the main exhibition area will feature documents and artefacts related to the magistracy of Grandmaster Alof de Wignacourt (1601-1622) and to Caravaggio’s works in Malta.
The Museum of Fine Arts in South Street, Valletta, will also present a Caravaggisti Experience, which will introduce the visitor to the works of Caravaggio’s followers in the national collection exhibited in the museum.
Data will highlight the impact of the master’s style in contrast to parallel but stylistically diverse artistic activity focusing more on the ideal beauty in art.
Dr Zammit Dimech was confident the exhibition would be a success because, apart from providing a major selection of works, foreign visitors would have the chance to view two other precious Caravaggio paintings, permanently housed at St John’s Co-Cathedral.
“Apart from being an attraction to local art lovers, I’m sure this will serve as a magnet for tourists, artists and admirers of this art genius,” he said.
source: timesofmalta.com
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CARAVAGGIO OCTOBER SPECIAL AT MAISON LA VALLETTE
£346 (511€)
1 week (7 nights) for 2 people
including:
free welcome pack including bottle of wine & other local delicacies
free transport from/to airport
2 free entrance tickets to St John’s Co Catherdral Museum
Valid till end October 2007.
equivalent to approx. £24 (€36) per person per night
Click here for more information & booking details
7
Jul 07
A few snaps of San Gorg celebrations in Valletta
I’ve been wanting to post these few pictures I took as I was passing by Republic Street in Valletta for a few weeks now… The pics below are part of the co-celebrations of the new Maltese appointed saint Dun Gorg (now ‘San’ as in Saint). The pictures show the procession to St John’s Co Catherdral….
4
Apr 07
Slow life
Just a short walk and you reach Marsamxett. A small ferryboat awaits. This is just below Valletta bastions few minutes away from Maison La vallette. Small coffee shops surround the area and colourful Maltese boats are safely positioned on the ramps. Across just ten minutes away by ferry is Sliema with its ever changing skyline of new hotels and apartments – a sure contrast to the Old City a baroque jewel of world heritage stature.
Two Twenty-Two is the place to stop and refresh yourself. It must have been a deposit centre back when the Knights of Malta were sovereign rulers. It is now a hip place; clean and minimalist. The view from the terrace is of St. Patrick’s church which dominates the skyline. There is a wonderful selection of wines and a good menu to please the most discerning.
These are the elements of a truly slow life. Maltese horse-driven carriages await just below. A slow tour follows the same route Maltese Damas used to take to arrive at St. John’ Co-Cathedral, the conventual church of the Order of the Knights. Here it is impossible to not stop and view the Great Caravaggio’s Masterpiece – The Beheading of St. John the Baptist. It is Caravaggio’s most extraordinary creation. A huge canvas, the largest he ever painted. Still in its original location. Slow life is wonderful…. sit and enjoy….