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Grand Master Jean de la Valette

This portrait bust is thought to have been commissioned to commemorate the Order of St John’s successful defence of Malta against the Ottoman Turks in the Great Siege of 1565. That, against the odds and greatly outnumbered, the knights were able to repel the Ottoman forces, was largely credited to the leadership and determination of the Grand Master, Jean de la Valette.

This object is on display

Object type: Sculpture
Date: Production: 1565 - 1568
Sculptor: Giovanni Bandini (1540 - 1599)
Subject(s): Arms and Armour
Knights of Malta
Portraiture
War
Associated person: Subject: Jean de la Valette (1495 - 1568)
Associated activity: Commemoration
Siege
Associated event: Siege: Great Siege of Malta, 1565 (18 May 1565 - 8 September 1565)
Dimensions: Height x width x depth: 230 x 150 x 80mm
Materials and technique: Silver and bronze, gilded
Production place: Italy
Related place(s): Italy
References: Deles, Przemysław and Przemysław Mrozowski ed. The Orders of St. John and their Ties with Polish Territories. Aex Redia Publishing House of the Royal Castle in Warsaw – Museum, 2014.
Pages 32 - 33

Magro Conti, Emmanuel, and Godwin Vella eds. 1565: The Great Siege of Malta Exhibition. Heritage Malta and Malta Libraries, 2015.
Page 117

Warren, Jeremy. "A Grand Master in miniature: Giovanni Bandini’s bust of Jean de Valette." Burlington Magazine, 160, March 2018: 196–205.

Foakes, Tom, ed. Treasures: Faith, Care, Valour: Highlights from the Collection of the Museum of the Order of St John. Priory of England and the Islands of the Most Venerable Order of the Hospital of St John of Jerusalem, 2019.
Pages 152 - 157
Exhibition history: 1565 - The Great Siege of Malta, Heritage Malta, 5 September 2015-6 December 2015
Credit line: Purchase with the assistance of the Heritage Lottery Fund, the Art Fund, the V&A Purchase Fund, the Pilgrim Trust, the Headley Trust, the Linbury Trust and Katz Ltd, 2011
Catalogue number: 4000