This is St John’s Cathedral, this time looking in the opposite direction to yesterday’s picture towards the cathedral’s main door.
St John's Co-Cathedral, Malta's most impressive church, was designed by the Maltese architect Gerolamo Cassar. It was built between 1573 and 1578 as the conventual church for the Knights of St John. The Grand Masters and several knights donated gifts of high artistic value and made enormous contributions to enrich it with only the best works of art. The interior was revamped in the 17th century in exuberant Maltese baroque style.
In the Oratory are two paintings by Caravaggio, the most prominent and the biggest work of the artist is the Beheading of St. John. I once tried to sneak a photo of this painting but was caught by a security officer who didn’t let me go before he made sure I had erased my quick capture. The museum holds some very important, adjacent to the Oratory holds some very important artistic treasures.
Many thanks for all your views, comments and favs. Always much appreciated.
That is one impressive building....and is so very well kept too...the running costs of this must be phenomenal....is there a charge for going in. There are charges in London to enter the big abbeys and churches there (unless youn are attending an actual service of course).
@cutekitty There is no charge if you go in for prayers but there is a small charge for going round the cathedral to admire the works and I think that is fair enough when one considers the immense amount of money needed to care for it.
Whatt an amazing building - such elaborate decoration! This makes me wonder at the amount of time, skill and physical effort invested in the embellishments.
It is so ornate and impressive- and to see a Caravaggio! Of course the Impressionists were always my favorite and I remember standing in front of a Renoir for the first time absolutely awestruck. I think I would feel the same about Caravaggio's work. Beautiful capture.
