If you were to visit the Upper Barracca Gardens in Malta today, it is possible to stumble across a view of Fort Saint Elmo through a large gold arch similar to that depicted in this painting. The scene was painted by Italian artist Giancinto Gianni in 1887 using oils. Gianni moved to Malta in 1866 seeking a profitable subject matter. His romantic depictions of the island went down well with foreign visitors, particularly the British who governed the island and wanted souvenirs of their time spent in the Mediterranean. The history of this painting provides an excellent example as it was acquired by General Sir John Lintorn Simmons, Governor of Malta between 1884 and 1888. We have a number of paintings by Gianni on display in the Gate which can be viewed here on the Art UK website.
Fort Saint Elmo, the subject of this painting, is a star shaped fort situated at the tip of the Sciberras Penisula, overseeing the entrance to the two harbors. During the Great Siege of Malta in 1565, the fort witnessed intense fighting, resisting bombardment for twenty-eight days before falling to the Ottomans. The fort was rebuilt alongside the construction of the new city of Valetta but frequently modified through out the centuries. Malta’s geographically significant location lead to another Siege during the Second World War. On 11th June 1940 the fort was the first site on the island to suffer from aerial bombardment. In July 1941, artillery stationed at the fort helped defend the Island from an Italian attack. Today, the fort is no longer a military base. Having suffered significant damage during the Second World War and further deterioration through lack of use, a major restoration project was carried out on the Fort, ending in 2015. Today, the Fort is home to Malta’s National War Museum.
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