As the 18th century unfolded into the 19th one, a French army general marched his troops across Syria and Egypt while harbouring visions of world domination.

The general Bonaparte would end up quietly returning to France and the troops he left behind eventually fell and were evacuated. 

Rudolf Ernst's The Rug Merchant.

The campaign’s cultural significance, however, would reverberate for years to come.

Influenced by Napoleon’s conquest of the Orient, artists incorporated new ideas and the dream of exotic travel into their art, literature, dance and architecture creating a new movement in all forms of art and design.

The next DFASinMalta lecture will see lecturer Suzanne Perin explore this movement, from its beginnings in the early 1700s to the present day.

The presentation will start at 6.30pm on Thursday April 11 at the Salini Resort in St. Paul’s Bay. Admission is free for members and open to the public for a fee of €15.

Contact Nicky Stilon at maltadfas@gmail.com for reservations.