Preservation & Scholarship
Acquisitions
MUSEUM OF THE ORDER OF ST JOHN
Charity Number
1077265
Applicant
Dr Alan Borg, Librarian (Senior Volunteer)
Present Appeal
Purchase of bust of Jean de la Valette
Amount Requested
£10,000
Organisation Overview
The Museum of the Order of St John covers the entire history of The Order of St
John, aka the Knights Hospitaller or the Knights of Malta, from its foundation in
Jerusalem in the 11th century, to Rhodes, Malta and finally the re-foundation in
Britain of the Venerable Order in the 19th century and its main charities, St John
Ambulance and the Eye Hospital in Jerusalem. The Museum operates within the
Order of St John as part of the Priory of England and the Islands. It is an accredited
museum set within the Grade 1 listed St John's Gate in Clerkenwell. The governing
body is the Trustees of the Order, operating through the Museum Policy Board.
Project Outline
The Museum has approached the Pilgrim Trust for a grant towards the acquisition of
a silver and gilt bronze bust of Jean Parisot de la Valette, 47th Grand Master of the
Order and hero of the Great siege of 1565.
The Great Siege of Malta in 1565 is a central feature of the story told by the Museum.
Jean Parisot de la Valette was the 47th Grand Master of the Order who was in post
when the Ottoman Turkish forces of Suleiman the Magnificent laid siege to Malta in
1565, in what was to become one of the most famous military actions in European
history. The Great Siege lasted from May to September, with heavy casualties on
both sides, but the Knights held out and the Turks were defeated. Much of the credit
for the victory went to Valette, who was hailed as a hero throughout the West. He
subsequently initiated the fortification of the city now known as Valetta and the
stronghold of the Order. Malta and the Western Mediterranean were never again to be
threatened by the forces of the Ottoman Empire.
This outstanding bust, of silver and gilt bronze was possibly a gift to Jean de la
Valette, sent in gratitude after the siege had ended. At this time he was showered with
presents from the great and good of Europe and the Museum of the Order in St John’s
Gate already holds a rock crystal cross sent to him by Pope Pius V. The bust is a
remarkable depiction of the Grand Master and clearly a masterwork by a master
goldsmith; although only 23 centimetres high, it shows Valette wearing a gilt and
embossed parade armour, with his Maltese cross visible behind the fabric sash across
his breast. Every facet of the armour, from the embossed decoration to the individual
rivets and leather shoulder straps is perfectly reproduced, while the silver head is a
masterpiece of modelling, with the hair, beard and skin revealed in minute detail.
The bust was sold in Paris on Monday 19 March 1860 from Une précieuse collection
d’objets d’art et de curiosité provenant du cabinet de M.E.Piot. Eugène Piot (18121891) was one of the greatest scholar dealers of the 19th century, whose journal Le
Cabinet de l’Amateur is one of the key sources for the study of collecting at the time.
Piot had a serious scholarly interest in the works of art he handled, but also a brilliant
eye. Many of the most famous Renaissance sculptures in museums today, for
example Donatello’s Piot Madonna in the Louvre or the same artist’s exquisite
bronze Winged Putto in the V&A first came to light in one of the periodic auction
sales organised by Piot during the 1860s.
The subsequent owner(s) of the bust are not currently known, but it seems to have
remained in France and was acquired by the Galerie Kugel in Paris a few years ago,
where Daniel Katz purchased it. The bust is accompanied by an Art Loss Register
certificate.
Financial Information
The Museum's accounts forms part of those of the Order and therefore do not give a
true picture of the finances.
Project
The bust is offered to the Museum by Daniel Katz Ltd. The price is £350,000.
The Museum is approaching the HLF for a grant of £250,000. The V&A Purchase
Fund has agreed £35,000 and the Art Fund £35,000. The Museum is contributing
£10,000. If the HLF produce £250,000 the Museum is £20,000 short.
Comments
The suggestion is that the Pilgrim Trust offers £10,000. Some consider that the
purchase price of £350,000 is rather steep and the Museum should negotiate hard with
the seller. Much, of course, depends on the Heritage Lottery Fund. David Verey and
Mark Jones are happy to support the project. Would Trustees be happy to offer
£10,000?