Overgave der Stad Maltha aan de Franschen, op den 2den van Zomermaand 1799.

Title

Overgave der Stad Maltha aan de Franschen, op den 2den van Zomermaand 1799.

Description

View showing the takeover of the city of Malta by the French, on the 2nd of the summer month of 1799. View showing the Grand Harbour at the takeover of the city, a natural harbour of the city of Valletta on the island of Malta. After the original drawing by Duplessi Bertaux. From ‘Tafereelen van de Staatsomwenteling in Frankrijk (1794-1807)’.

ca. 1800

Artist

Vinkeles & Vrjdag

Reinier Vinkeles (Amsterdam 1741-1816) was a painter and engraver from the northern Netherlands in the 18th century, who later taught several talented artists. He studied under Jan Punt for around ten years and was a member of the Stadstekenacademie in Amsterdam. Daniel Vrijdag (Netherlands 1765-1822)

Historical Description

Malta's location has historically given it great strategic importance as a naval base, and a succession of powers, including the Phoenicians, Romans, Moors, Normans, Sicilians, Habsburg Spain, Knights of St. John, French and British, have ruled the islands. Malta gained independence from the United Kingdom in 1964 and became a republic in 1974.