Hazards at sea : a case-study of two ex-voto paintings from the Church of the Karmelitani Skalzi in Bormla, Malta

Abstract

This article seeks to explore the hazards at sea experienced by seamen in the nineteenth century by interpreting two ex-voto paintings, which are currently preserved in a Catholic church situated at the harbour town of Bormla (Cospicua) in Malta. It was customary, in the past, for seafarers to make a vow when faced with life threatening perils at sea. From early modern times onwards, these vows were made only to a religious effigy, usually represented by the Virgin Mary (but not solely), which had miraculous attributes. In return for a safe journey home, the mariner or mariners (a vow could be also collective) donated a painting depicting the ordeals experienced. These iconography are rich in maritime detail. This paper tells the tale of a sailor on a Russian steamship who fell overboard and the perils experienced by the crew of a pilot boat while escorting a ship into Malta’s harbour.