The depiction of naval battle scenes in the Grand Master's Palace : 17th century - 18th century

Abstract

The present study attempts to shed light on a relatively unexplored subject on the depiction of naval battle scenes and engagements during the 17th and 18th centuries, specifying mainly on the works found within the Magisterial Palace. It was therefore necessary to analyse the historic background in which these works were being commissioned, together with their proper context and the prevailing artistic trends of the period. The introduction serves to give a brief overview of the Order and its long tradition of military and naval history. Secondly, a brief description of their artistic patronage is given and how the art of the knights was not only of a religious nature but also strongly political. This was strongly felt after the Great Siege of 1565, when the Order constructed a new city fashioned on the contemporary Renaissance ideals that was a statement of their wealth and power. This message was strongly delivered in architecture; civil and military, with imposing buildings and fortifications. Later the knights commissioned artists to decorate their palazzos with the latest fashionable works. This also manifested itself in the initiation of the first historical cycles within the Grandmaster’s Palace, a building with a strong political weight. This tradition was first initiated by the Italian painter Mattia Perez D’Aleccio (1547-1616) only to be continued by others at a later stage. Following this argument, an introduction to the Palace and its importance and rich artistic wealth and the relative importance of the naval depictions within the same structure.