Art Masterclass – Picturing History: Leonello Spada’s Fresco Cycle

In early 1610, Bolognese artist Leonello Spada travelled to Malta to paint the fresco cycle of the early history of the Order of the Knights of St John in three adjoining rooms of the Grand Master’s Palace in Valletta.

Heritage Malta in collaboration with the Department of Art and Art History at the University of Malta, will be taking a closer look at this narrative in an art lecture by Frederica Agius that will be streamed live on our Facebook page on the 14th of October at 18:00 hrs

This lecture will examine the logistics for this high profile commission which stemmed from Grand Master Alof de Wignacourt himself shortly after Caravaggio’s dramatic escape from the island.

The fresco’s narrative has a complicated intellectual, didactic and propagandistic nature, which corresponds to the carefully edited story that the Knights wanted to give their troubled history. This will be at the forefront of this discussion, whilst an analysis of the format, iconography and sources that contribute to the intricate scheme will also feature prominently.

STQARRIJA BIL-MALTI/ PRESS RELEASE IN MALTESE