Antonio Grech, called Antonaci (fl. 1799-1841)

The following three lots depict an eye-witness account of the uprising of the Maltese against the French, 1798-1800 With the British Royal Navy confined to the English Channel waiting for an expected invasion of England by a fleet of French landing-craft and with a British army committed to Ireland to counteract French-assisted insurrections, Bonaparte seized the moment in June 1798 to commence the "great expediction against Malta and Egypt". The plan was breath-taking in its audacity. With the Mediterranean free of British ships he intended to secure Malta as a fortified base, from there to proceed to Egypt with an army of occupation and then to proceed overland to capture India. On 9 June 1798 the French fleet, totalling 472 vessels, hove to off Valletta and requested entry to the harbours. Hompesch, Grand Master of the Order of the Knights of St John, who ruled Malta under the suzerainty of the King of Naples and Sicily declined the request "with regret". French troops now landed in Gozo and occupied much of Malta. Faced with such military might, a divided and financially weakened Council, and the threat of insurrection by the Maltese citizenry Hompesch capitulated. Bonaparte expelled the Order, imposed new laws which included the banning of feudal titles and religious marriage ceremonies, and then departed for Egypt leaving a French army (some 3,500 troops) in Malta under Vaubois. Nelson finally divined Bonaparte's intentions and in due course found and destroyed the French fleet at Aboukir Bay, effectively cutting the French army's line of supply. In Malta the French troops, in need of funds, began pillaging the churches. Bonaparte had offended the clergy and the Maltese nobility - his subordinates now succeeded in outraging the deeply religious populace. Thus when three French warships, "Guillaume Tell", "Diane" and "La Justice" the sole survivors of Bonaparte's fleet at Aboukir Bay, limped into grand Harbour on 28 August some of the politically minded Maltese citizens saw their chance. On 2 September, an attempt by French troops at Notabile to auction off damask belonging to the Carmelite Friars led to an uprising. The french garrison at Notabile was massacred, neighbouring armouries were seized by the Maltese and Vaubois and his army, now themselves under seige, withdrew into the safety of Valletta and the harbour forts. Under the direction of the Maltese aristocrats a provisional revolutionary Maltese government was formed on 4 September. Cannons and mortars were brought in from outlying forts, lead and mattresses requisitioned to make bullets and wadding, and batteries were set up opposite the fortifications and to control the main roads. Assistance was sought from Ferdinand IV, King of Sicily and Naples and it was from Sicily that Nelson, nursing a head wound received at Aboukir Bay sent "Terpischore" to investigate. The French garrison at Fort Chambray in Gozo, under siege from armed Maltese peasants, chose to surrender to Captain Alexander Ball RN and a contingent of Marines. Despite a desperate shortage of food the Maltese citizens continued the siege. On 6 December 1798 Nelson finally sent cannons and ammunition to assist the Maltese and instructed Captain Ball to deploy three vessels to blockade Valletta. Following a further deputation to George III Ball was now instructed to leave his ship and to preside over matters ashore, including the formation of an elected Maltese National Assembly on 11 February 1799. Hardship deepened - but still the siege was maintained. On 6 December 1799, Brigadier-General Graham arrived with 800 foot-soldiers. These, with the 400 marines and other regular soldiers already there, along with 1500 Maltese regular and 1000 Maltese irregular soldiers and seventy cannons were still insufficient to do other than keep the French troops contained. It was not until 16 February 1800 when Lord Keith and Nelson, combining fleets, arrived from Palermo with 12000 troops that the tide began to turn. The "Guillaume Tell" attempted to run for France in March but was captured. The two remaining French warships ran for France in July. "Diane" was captured but "La Justice" arrived safely to advise of the imminent surrender of Vaubois. On the 4 September 1800 Vaubois agreed to surrender the Fortress and did so on the 5th.

細節

Antonio Grech, called Antonaci (fl. 1799-1841)

Vue de la Batterie du Gharhar, Côté du Nord de la Valette, Malthe

signed 'Antonaci del:' and inscribed'Vüe de la Batterie du Gharhar Côté du Nord de la Valette Malthe'; pencil and watercolour on paper, unframed
9¼ x 12½ in. (23.5 x 31.8 cm.)

拍品專文

This battery commands the heights above Fort Manoel. On the horizon the three British blockading vessels can clearly be seen. The French tricoleur flies above the Forts Tigne, St Elmo and Valletta. The armament comprises a full complement of naval ships cannons with a plentiful supply of cannon balls. The majority of the soldiers are British regular troops, either light dragoons in their blue uniform with red sash, or fusiliers in white jacket, breeches and long gaiters, although there are two Maltese irregulars, on sentry duty. Most of the troops wear bicorne hats although the officer standing by his horse sports a "topper" with red plume. The two flags are those of the King of Naples (to the left) and the white ensign of the British Royal Navy.
We are grateful to Ian Bouskill for his assistance in cataloguing this picture.