Ottoman-Habsburg Wars (1521-1791)
Images from eight wars fought between 1570 and 1718
Siege of Malta, 1565
L'ASSEDIO È BATTERIA DI · S · ERMO ADI · XXVII · DI MAGGIO
published 1582Etching and engraving; printed on paper; mounted on paper (Mount Type A); gilt edges left, bottom and right | 31.6 x 44.7 cm (image and neatline) | RCIN 721033.d
A high oblique view/map of the Turkish assault on the fort of St Elmo in the 27th May 1565. Oriented with north-north-east (Greco-Tramontana) to top (mariner’s wind rose).
The text on the view explains that it shows the formation of the Turkish batteries around the fort and that Mustapha Pasha wanted to capture the fort first of all in order to gain the harbour of Marsamuscetto where the fleet would be able to anchor safely. Mustapha Pasha came with about eighty galleys from Marsasirocco to St George’s Bay where he unloaded the munitions for the siege of St Elmo.
See RCIN 721033.a for further information and literature and further reading.
Matteo Perez d'Aleccio (1547-1616) (publisher) [bottom right:] IN ROMA·APPRESSO·MATTHEO PEREZ DE ALLEZIO·
Watermark: Three-runged ladder in shield with six-pointed star above [see Woodward nos 244-254]
Condition: mount slightly creased; some brown discolouration; surface dirt
31.6 x 44.7 cm (image and neatline)
cropped (platemark)
31.8 x 45.2 cm (sheet)
40.9 x 54.9 cm (mount)
Printed title:
L'ASSEDIO È BATTERIA DI · S [a line reminiscent of a cardinal's hat is engraved over the ‘S’] · ERMO ADI · XXVII · DI MAGGIO [the second ‘G’ is engraved within the first ‘G’] [top]
Printed title:
IN QVESTA FORMA STAVA LA BATTERIA DINTORNO A·S·ERMO CHEL' BASSA MVSTAFA VOLSE CHE FVSSE LA PRIMA INPRESA PER GVADAGNA / =re il porto di marza mvscetto acio l'armata avesse loco sicvro. [along bottom of view, below neatline]
Printed title:
FOGLIO QUARTO [bottom right]
Additional text:
[top left, in a scroll, an account of the arrival of 80 Turkish ships in St George’s Bay with ammunition for Santo Ermo:] Alli · 30 · Di Maggio … [right centre, in a cartouche (a lion's skin suspended by two winged cherubs), a key, A-I, K-P, to geographical and military features.]
Annotations:
George III heading: Malta
Other annotations: (Recto) none. (Verso) [bottom right, black pencil, erased:] II/37-d
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. 2669
Page revisions
14 March 2024
Current version
