FARE CONVITO –The Archaeology of Banqueting in Hospitaller Malta (16th to 18th century)

The world of food, art and politics came together in the ritual of Baroque Banqueting – the formal and communal sharing of food and drink. This is the subject of an exhibition currently running at the magnificent Inquisitor’s Palace in Birgu, focusing on the banqueting culture of Malta under the Order of St John.

Between the 16^th and 18^th century, Malta imported many aspects of European food and dining culture, mainly from Renaissance Italy and from Rococo France. An especially striking feature was the CONVITO – the formal banquet – which was, above all, a theatrical backdrop for political discussion and intrigue. Banquets were a central feature of the Order’s politics, starting with the Grand Masters and involving all social orders of Maltese society in this period.

This exhibition takes a novel approach to this phenomenon, through a study of the archaeology of banqueting and, in particular, through a presentation of the artistic ceramics used in such events. On display are a range of beautifully crafted maiolica and porcelain vessels used both for display and for serving food during formal banquets.

The items on display were all discovered in archaeological investigations in Malta or were conserved in local museum collections – most of these artefacts are being exhibited publicly for the first time in this exhibition. The exhibition includes two late Renaissance plates belonging to Cardinal Farnese’s famous credenza, a Chinese Ming porcelain import to Malta, important examples of South Italian heraldic plates, and a wide range of French and North Italian faience, including examples in the Rococo style of Moustier.

Having been hosted by the National Museum of Archaeology in Valletta last year, the exhibition has now been relocated to the Inquisitor’s Palace in Birgu – an obvious choice. The palace is a standing monument to the sophisticated culture of the Baroque period, including its gastronomic and culinary aspect – as attested by numerous archival sources – and various items on display were archaeologically recovered within the palace itself. This exhibition is a further step in asserting Heritage Malta’s commitment towards advancing the study and appreciation of historical gastronomy. It approaches the subject of historical banqueting in a multi-disciplinary manner, combining elements from archaeology, history, art history, and anthropology. It is the outcome of a close collaboration between Heritage Malta museums (National Museum of Archaeology, Inquisitor’s Palace, MUŻA and Gozo Museums), the Malta National Library, and the Metropolitan Chapter of Malta.

The exhibition will run until the 31^st December 2024 and is included in admission to the Inquisitor’s Palace, adding a complementary attraction to the visiting public. An illustrated catalogue is available for sale at the museum’s gift shop and online here: Store – Heritage Malta.