Valletta from the Quarantine Harbor, Malta, Antique Steel Engraving, c. 1840

A steel engraving of Valletta seen across the Quarantine Harbor, Malta, drawn by Lieutenant Allen of the Royal Engineers and engraved by W. Wallis.

The fortified city rises above its bastions on the far shore, crowded with houses and church towers and topped by a windmill. A tall ship lies at anchor beside smaller sailing craft, and in the foreground a Maltese boat with a striped awning is rowed across the calm water. A dark, broken sky gives the scene a sense of approaching weather.

The plate is lettered "Lt. Allen, Rl. Engineers" and "W. Wallis", with the title "Valetta, from the Quarantine Harbor. Malta.", an Italian caption "Valetta, dal Porto di Quarantina, Malta", and the imprint "Fisher, Son and Co. London and Paris". It is believed to come from Fisher's views of the shores and islands of the Mediterranean, published around 1840.

The Quarantine Harbor, now Marsamxett, lies on the north side of the Valletta peninsula, where ships arriving from plague ports were held. The drawing by a serving engineer officer gives the fortifications a careful accuracy.

A handsome piece for anyone with Maltese roots, and a good companion to other Mediterranean harbor views. The engraved image measures about 12.4 by 19.2 cm (height by width), and the margins around it carry all the original lettering, which is worth keeping visible in the mat.

This is an original antique print, not a modern reproduction. This item is sold unframed.