Ottoman-Habsburg Wars (1521-1791)
Images from eight wars fought between 1570 and 1718
Siege of Malta, 1565
DISEGNO DELL' ISOLA DI MALTA ET LA VENVTA DELL' / ARMATA TVRCHESCA ADI ·XVIII DI MAGGIO: M·D·LXVI·
published 1582Etching and engraving; printed on paper; mounted on paper (Mount Type A); gilt edges left, bottom and right | 31.6 x 44.5 cm (image, neatline and sheet) | RCIN 721033.b
A map of the island of Malta showing the arrival of the Turkish fleet on the 18th May 1565. Oriented with south-west (L[ibeccio]) to top (compass rose); the letters of the compass rose are derived from the mariner’s windrose: Tramontana (N), Greco (NE), + or Levante (E), Scirocco (SE), Ostro (S), Libeccio [or Garbino] (SW), Ponente (W), Maestro (NW).
The text along the bottom of the map reads (translated by Silvia Percival-Prescott, National Maritime Museum): ‘This is a most faithful depiction of the Island of Malta, with all the harbours, forts and villages, and showing the Maltese making their way to safety with all their goods, having seen the arrival of the Turkish armada. The Turks did not anchor at Marsasirocco at first because of heavy seas, but went round the island and anchored at Mgarr on Friday the 18th of May. On the Saturday they skirmished with our cavalry and took prisoner a French Knight called la Rivière.’
See the Notes and References to the master entry at 721033 for further information.
Matteo Perez d'Aleccio (1547-1616) (publisher) [bottom left, inside neatline:] IN ROMA · APPRESSO · MATTHEO PEREZ DE ALLECCIO·
Watermark: Shield with three chevrons above a wolf in a circle, crown above [see Woodward 223]
Condition: mount slightly creased with a small piece missing, bottom right; some brown spots; surface dirt; traces of adhesive along the top edge, perhaps from a former guard
31.6 x 44.5 cm (image, neatline and sheet)
cropped (platemark)
41.3 x 54.8 cm (mount)
Printed title:
DISEGNO DELL' ISOLA DI MALTA ET LA VENVTA DELL' / ARMATA TVRCHESCA ADI ·XVIII DI MAGGIO: M·D·LXVI·[top left and top right, separated by allegorical figures representing the Holy Trinity, the Virgin, St Catherine, St John the Baptist and St Paul]
Printed title:
VERISSIMO DISEGNO DEL'ISOLA DI MALTA CON TVTTI LI PORTI FORTEZZE CASALI ET LI MALTESI CHE CON LE LORO ROBBE SI CONDVCANO ... MDLXV. [top left and top right, separated by allegorical figures representing the Holy Trinity, the Virgin, St Catherine, St John the Baptist and St Paul]
Printed title:
FOGLIO SECONDO ·1582·[along bottom, below view]
Annotations:
George III heading: Malta
Other annotations: (Recto) none. (Verso) [bottom right, black pencil:] II/37b.
George III catalogue entry:
Malta Ritratti della Guerra e dell’ Assedio et Assalti dati alla Isola di Malta dall’ Armata Turchesca l’anno 1565: da Matteo Perez di Allecio, 1582. 15 foglie.
Subject(s)
Malta, independent political entity (35°55ʹ00ʺN 14°26ʹ00ʺE)
Bibliographic reference(s)
M. McDonald, The Print Collection of Cassiano dal Pozzo. Part II, Architecture, Topography and Military Maps, 3 vols, London 2019, cat. no. 2667
Page revisions
14 March 2024
Current version
