Heritage Malta’s Malta Maritime Museum will be hosting an exhibition entitled ‘History at Sea’ by artist Thomas J. Burnell. This exhibition consists of original works and small limited edition paper and canvas prints and will be open free of charge until the 31st of October (Daily 09:00hrs – 17:00hrs, last admission: 16:30hrs).

The Seed of Freedom is one of the collector’s items on display during this exhibition. After the battle of the Nile in 1798, Rear Admiral of the Blue, Nelson sent Captain Alexander Ball in the Alexander (74 guns) to visit Archpriest Saver Cassar who was the head of the Matrice (the Cathedral) and Superintendent of the Island of Gozo. Captain Ball reported that the Gozitan partisans had surrounded the only remaining French garrison in the Cittadella and that the garrison wanted a guarantee of protection once they had surrendered. Ball advised Nelson that it would be better if he could come to the island and so Nelson aboard his flagship the Vanguard (74 guns) sailed to Gozo.

When Archpriest Cassar heard that Nelson himself was moored outside Mgarr harbour he rode out to meet him and the Vanguard fired a salute in honour. They then drew up a document, on board the British ship, that guaranteed the protection of the French troops. The surrender was agreed and signed inside the Cittadella. Very soon the French troops marched out of Rabat (Victoria) and down to Mgarr harbour where they boarded the British ships which then transported them back to French soil. The first ensign to fly over Rabat was the white ensign.

Two years later Britain moved into Valletta and the Maltese islands became part of the British Empire and Alexandra Ball became the first Governor General of Malta. Malta remained under the protection of the British until 1964 when the Maltese people gained their complete independence. The document signed by Nelson is displayed in the National Archives Gozo Section in Victoria underneath a Limited Edition print of the “Seed of Freedom” by Thomas J Burnell.

Over the last few years Marine Artist, Thomas J Burnell, has spent most of his time painting on the island of Gozo, producing oil paintings of historical events and battles, now he is to be found on the Strand in Sliema, Malta in a small studio where he can paint and chat to everyone passing by. After accurately researching the subject he then transforms the canvas into breathtaking scenes of bravery and daring, providing a snapshot of the past. All of his paintings carry his unmistakable hallmarks of stunning seas and skies. Battles, seascapes and of course, classic ships of all shapes and sizes – the list is endless and very beautiful.

For information about the exhibition and the Museum visit www.heritagemalta.org or Thomas J Burnell’s website at www.studiointheyard.com.

Photo shows The Seed of Freedom by Thomas J Burnell.

Permalink: History at Sea – An exhibition at the Malta Maritime Museum