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Description: | Signed: yes Description: The painting depicts a View of Valletta from Manoel Island. Various craft can be seen in the foreground; a rowing boat on the right, a small sloop in the centre, and to the far left, a steamer with two funnels and paddles; this must have been an exciting sight in 1869, and is probably included here to appeal to British visitors to the Island, who may have journeyed on such a vessel. Gianni first came to Malta in 1866, on a short excursion to assess the market for his painting there. He obviously felt there was good money to be made, as he stayed, and, over the next twenty years, built up a successful business, eventually passed onto his two daughters. His success was founded on his ability to represent a nostalgic, romantic ideal of Malta that appealed to foreign visitors, particularly the British; a highly lucrative market, since Malta was governed by the British. It was not all tourist pictures though, he had some prominent patrons, including the Duke of Edinburgh and the Prince of Wales. Some confusion surrounds Gianni's first name; he signed himself 'G Gianni' and is often confused with the artist signing himself 'Gian Gianni', though they are distinct. The Getty Union List of Artist's Names recognises only Giancinto Gianni, but most Maltese authorities (including the National Museum of Fine Arts in Malta), now refer to him as Girolamo Gianni. | Subjects: | landscape (Valletta) | Source: | Vads | Creator: | Artist: Gianni, Girolamo (Italian artist, 1837-1895) Æ | Identifier: | http://www.vads.ac.uk/large.php?uid=8596... | Go to resource |
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