The Siege of Malta: Siege and Bombardment of Saint Elmo, 27 May 1565

Image credit: National Maritime Museum, Greenwich, London

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This is the second of eight pictures commemorating the Siege of Malta in 1565. The canvases bear the cipher of Charles I on the reverse indicating that they were once in his collection. The set as a whole is a version of the larger series still in place in the Council Chamber of the Grand Master's Palace in Valletta. It records the siege and bombardment of St Elmo, on 27th May, with the Turkish camp at Marsa. Taken from the view point of the Turkish base camp at Marsa, it shows the formation of the Turkish batteries round St Elmo. Mustapha Pasha wished to capture this first in order to gain the harbour of Marsamucetto, and thus provide safe anchorage for his fleet. The painting demonstrates similar aerial perspective to 'The Siege of Malta: Arrival of the Turkish Fleet, 20 May 1565' (BHC0252) and forms a continuous narrative to it since the figures to the far left of the first painting are shown here in the right foreground.

National Maritime Museum

London

Title

The Siege of Malta: Siege and Bombardment of Saint Elmo, 27 May 1565

Date

late 16th C

Medium

oil on canvas

Measurements

H 137.2 x W 208.3 cm

Accession number

BHC0253

Work type

Painting

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