Ottoman-Habsburg Wars (1521-1791)
Images from eight wars fought between 1570 and 1718
Siege of Malta, 1565
L'ASSEDIO E BATTERIA DELL' ISOLA DI SAN MICHELE ADI XXVIII · DI GIVGNO
published 1582Etching and engraving; printed on paper; mounted on paper (Mount Type A); gilt edges left, bottom and right | 31.9 x 44.9 cm (image, neatline and sheet) | RCIN 721033.f
A medium oblique view of the Turkish assault on the fort of St Michael, 28th June 1565. Oriented with north-west to top.
The text along the bottom of the view relates that after the taking of Fort St Elmo, many renegades came over to the Christian side with the information that the intention of the Pasha was to bombard the fortresses, using sixty pieces of artillery, in the belief that after a few days everything would be pulverised. The text in the banner above the fort of St Michael states the island of St Michael was the post of the langue (one of the national divisions of the Knights Hospitallers) of Italy, whose commanders were Admiral Fra Pietro del Monte and Fra Pietro Giustiniani.
See RCIN 721033.a for further information and literature and further reading.
Matteo Perez d'Aleccio (1547-1616) (publisher) [bottom left, above text:] IN ROMA APPRESSO ·MATTHEO PEREZ DE ALLEZIO ·FOG SESTO· [bottom right, in a scroll:] ·MDLXXXII·
Watermark: Shield with three chevrons above a wolf in circle, a crown above [see Woodward 223]
Condition: mount slightly creased; some brown discolouration; surface dirt
31.9 x 44.9 cm (image, neatline and sheet)
cropped (platemark)
41.2 x 54.9 cm (mount)
Printed title:
L'ASSEDIO E BATTERIA DELL' ISOLA DI SAN MICHELE ADI XXVIII · DI GIVGNO [top]
Printed title:
Dopoi la presa di · s · ermo fvgirno molti renegati d alli qvalI se intese che il bascia voleva battere le fortezze con ·lx· pezzi inmaginandosi [along bottom, below neatline]
Printed title:
FOG.o SESTO [bottom left]
Additional text:
[left of centre, in a cartouche, a key, A-I, K-P.]
Annotations:
George III heading: Malta Other annotations: (Recto) none. (Verso) [bottom right, black pencil, erased:] II/37-f
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. 2671
Page revisions
14 March 2024
Current version
