An exhibition entitled “Betrayal and Vengeance: The Slaves’ conspiracy of 1749 in 19 historical drawings” has been inaugurated at the Inquisitor’s Palace and at the National Museum of Ethnography by the Minister for National Heritage Owen Bonnici.
The Ministry for National Heritage said that the exhibition commemorates the 275th anniversary of the historic uprising and is built on a set of 19 numbered contemporary drawings which were recently restored by Heritage Malta. It continued that the drawings show the strong repression which took place after the failure of the plot and includes scenes that offer an insight into the brutal realities of the post.
The exhibition is supplemented by reports written at the time as well as sermon sheets and more recent literature on the subject, the Ministry said. It continued that the narrative of the exhibition was shaped by more than 58 sheets of news exchanged between the Inquisitor and Apostolic Delegate Paolo Passionei and the Vatican between 1748 and 1751.
Detailing the exhibition, the Ministry said that it transports visitors to Malta under the Order through carefully curated interpretation and advanced technology. It continued that the exhibition explores key themes such as slavery, power, betrayal, capital punishment, and torture in the socio-political background of Muslim-Catholic relations, which it said dominated the Mediterranean for centuries. The Ministry said that there is a dynamic program of activities which accompany the exhibition, and continued that an illustrated colour publication which offers a comprehensive review of the 45-month saga is available for purchase.
Bonnici said that the exhibition gives a “deep insight into a dramatic and important period in the history of our country”, and said that through it, “we are continuing to strengthen our commitment to boost cultural tourism”. He continued that the exhibition is more proof of the work being done to give new life to the country’s past and make it accessible to everyone. He thanked all those involved in carrying out the initiative, “particularly the workers of Heritage Malta”.
The Chairman of Heritage Malta, Mario Cutajar, said that “exhibitions that include excerpts from our events will always be popular”. He said that the workers at Heritage Malta continue to do their best “to tell our stories in the best way so that there is a wider awareness of the building of our identity today”.
Heritage Malta CEO Noel Zammit said that events like this exhibition are the fruit of the union between the agency’s sustained growth and its continuous collection of public opinion.
Kenneth Cassar, the Senior Curator for Ethnography within Heritage Malta, said that the exhibition goes deep into the plot to convey a story about aspirations and betrayal, “both on a personal level, as well as on a state level, ended by the power of the Hospitaller State 275 years ago”.
The exhibition will continue until March 31, 2025. More details can be accessed here: https://heritagemalta.mt/whats-on/betrayal-and-vengeance-the-slaves-conspiracy-of-1749-in-19-historical-drawings/