Rare Schranz painting comes to light
A small painting of HMS Trafalgar at the entrance to Grand Harbour by Giovanni Schranz has come to light at Lyon & Turnbull auctioneers in Edinburgh.
The painting valued at £1,000 is inscribed 'To Vice Admiral Fanshaw K.C.B - A souvenir from Mr & Mrs Tagliaferro, Malta, May 186...' .
It will be sold on December 2, 2009 at their Fine Paintings Sale in Edinburgh.
Nick Curnow, Managing Director of Lyon and Turnbull and Painting Specialist said: "In recent years extensive research has revealed much of the huge contribution the Schranz family has made to Maltese painting since the date of Anton's arrival on the island in 1817. From this time, and until his death in 1839 it can be difficult to separate the work of Anton and his sons Giovanni and Antonio both of whom studied under their father."
On the death of his father Giovanni opted to continue the family business and to increment his income by endorsing the new process of lithography. In addition he ran a painting school, and directly influenced the work of later generations as typified by Girolamo Gianni and Charles Ferro.
Giovanni exhibited widely at the London Exhibitions of 1851 and 1886 and the Paris Exhibition of 1867, and his work was purchased by both Queen Adelaide, widow of William IV and Queen Victoria.
Admiral Arthur Fanshawe was born in 1794 the third and youngest son of Captain Robert Fanshawe, Resident Commissioner of Plymouth Dockyard. Fanshawe joined the Navy aged 10 and was made Captain by the time he was 22. After a rapid rise through the ranks and time spent in the Eastern Mediterranean, off West Africa and in North America and the West Indies Fanshawe was made Vice-Admiral in 1857 and from 1858 to 1860 he was Commander-in-Chief of the Mediterranean Fleet in the Flagship Marlborough.
In 1860 Fanshawe returned to Britain as Commander-in-Chief at Devonport. He was made Admiral in 1862 and died in 1864 aged 70 after 60 years in the Navy. The donor of the painting was probably Biagio Tagliaferro, one of the principal merchants in Malta and President of The Malta Bank, although Giacinto Tagliaferro who owned a Maritime Insurance Company remains a possibilty.
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Keith Tagliaferro
Jun 22nd 2011, 11:45
I am a descendant of Biagio Tagliaferro and I wish I had seen this article two years ago. I would have bid on the painting and it could have joined the other articles that have been passed down to me through the family and once belonged to Biagio and his family Girolamo, Giacomo etc.
Stephen Borg Cardona
Nov 24th 2009, 08:23
The descendants of the Tagliaferro family should consider bidding for this lovely work of art.
Guze Xerri
Nov 23rd 2009, 21:16
What a fine lovely painting, this should be purchased by the government to be displayed to the public in Malta.
It would be money well spent on a maltese heirloom.
victor pulis
Nov 23rd 2009, 18:34
the painting shows Corradino hill with the Spencer monument still in its original place before it was moved to Blata l-bajda. In the far background can be seen Senglea parish church which was destroyed during the Illustrious blitz on 16th january 1941. 1000 pounds is not such a huge sum for such an important painting. We should try and acquire it for our museum. It may not mean much to others but it forms part of our cultural heritage.
Emanuel Cilia Debono
Nov 23rd 2009, 15:14
In my opinion the Government should make a bid for this rare painting. It would be a welcome addition to the collection at the Museum of Fine Arts Museum or to the Maritime Museum.
Alfred Farrugia
Nov 23rd 2009, 15:10
Does the Malta High Commission in London have an appropriate place for this painting?
Does anybody know how it found itself at Lyon & Turnbull?
Roderick Cutajar
Nov 23rd 2009, 14:57
I agree with Charles Busuttil. I'm sure the government can afford to buy this painting and exibit it at the fine arts museum. We need to be active and not passive when such opportunities come by.
Sean Sant Fournier
Nov 23rd 2009, 13:32
The Tagliaferro family mentioned in this article were my ancestors. They were a wealthy family based in Malta. They were in the shipping business and brought goods into Malta. They probably knew Admiral Fanshaw because they worked with him and were friends.
C.Formosa
Nov 23rd 2009, 12:12
Beautiful painting,
however this scene is under Kordin and not at the entrance.
In the background one can also see the Spencer monument in its original site.
Charles Busuttil
Nov 23rd 2009, 11:53
Wouldn't it be a good idea if the Maltese Government were to acquire it for our Museum of Fine Arts? It seems that it is going for a song.