The Sala Grande is the tallest room in the house. The chandelier is from Bohemia, now the Czech Republic - it was made for candles and dates to the late 18th century.

 

On the pink and mustard-coloured walls hang some significant paintings.

 

The two portraits of popes are of Clement XI (on the left) and Clement XIV both of whom bestowed important ecclesiastical privileges on the Maltese clergy. Clement XI was a member of the famous Albani family of Rome. He is painted here by Carlo Maratta. The de Piro family lent money to the Albanis in the early 18th century. Other pictures of interest are the self-portrait of the court painter Antoine Favray (1706-1798) signed and dated in Constantinople in 1763. The elegant Maltese lady with the wimple hanging over the inlaid roll top desk is a member of the Sceberras family, a work attributed to Francesco Zahra (1710-1773). The Flemish artist Willem Benson (flourishing 1551-1564) painted the Madonna and Child on panels.

 

The large black lacquer 18th century bureau is in fact a portable chapel. Its appearance, when shut, is not too religious, however, when open it becomes a fully functioning chapel. The altar-front bears the coat of arms of a Maltese nobleman, Marquis Pandolfo Testaferrata de Noto (1736-1816). It is decorated with pictures of exotic birds and flora, and also panels depicting St Francis Xavier in China and in the company of Indians of Goa. Portable chapels could be moved into a bedroom so that a mother, immediately after giving birth, could be present at the baptism of her child. A portable chapel could also be transported to country residences for the summer season.

 

 

 

If you wish to see more have a look at our 360° virtual tour:

 

 

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