Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/1541244
8 maltatoday | WEDNESDAY • 12 NOVEMBER 2025 CULTURE HERITAGE Malta is exhibit- ing prints of Goya's Disasters of War from the collections of Fundación MAPFRE at the Grand Master's Palace. This ex- hibition is sponsored by MAP- FRE Malta and the Bank of Val- letta (BOV) Foundation. Disasters of War is a series of 80 etchings with which Spanish artist Goya immortalized the brutality of the Peninsular War (1808-1814) between France and Spain – a violent convul- sion of anarchy, starvation and slaughter with long-lasting cat- astrophic effects. The series (c.1810-15) is deemed to be Goya's personal reflection on the devastating ef- fects of the war on the people, showing scenes that are raw and unsettling in their depiction of battlefield horror and dehu- manization. Goya may have witnessed some of the events depicted in the prints himself. However, it is not possible to locate specific places. The scenes are divided into three parts. The first 47 focus on incidents from the war and show the consequences on in- dividual soldiers and civilians; the next ones record the effects of the famine that hit Madrid in 1811-12, before the city was lib- erated from the French; and the final 17, which are more alle- gorical, reflect the bitter disap- pointment of progressive think- ers when the restored Bourbon monarchy, encouraged by the Catholic hierarchy, rejected so- cial reform. With this work, Goya breaks away from a number of artistic traditions. In fact, Disasters of War is the first example in the history of art where war and its consequences are depicted not as heroic acts, but as the trage- dy and barbarism that they truly stand for. Albeit depicting the war in Spain, Goya's images could re- late to any war – which is what renders this exhibition incredi- bly powerful and of contempo- rary relevance. Francisco José de Goya y Lu- cientes (1746-1828) is consid- ered to be the most important Spanish artist of the late 18th and early 19th centuries. This is the very first time in Malta that an entire exhibition is dedicated to his work. Mario Cutajar, Chairman of Heritage Malta, said that Goya is regarded as the last of the old masters, as much as he is con- sidered the first of the moderns. He is the artist of contrasts – an exceptional portraitist, yet highly imaginative; the painter of royalty in their silent palac- es, as much as the painter of the people's hardships and cries. However, the power of Goya's works, such as the war pieces in this exhibition, are an alarm clock that never rang – human- ity has remained blind and deaf to suffering. Elvira Vega, CEO of Fun- dación MAPFRE, stated that, "We are very happy to present a part of our collection, specifi- cally the etchings from Francis- co de Goya's Disasters of War, which nowadays still urge us to awaken reason, reflect, and act with conscience." Dr Gordon Cordina, Chair- person of Bank of Valletta, observed that, "Here in Mal- ta, a crossroads of Europe and Africa, we know that peace is built not only by treaties, but by memory, dialogue, and the courage to learn from history. By supporting this exhibition, we reaffirm Malta's commit- ment to building trust and dig- nity for all." Etienne Sciberras, CEO of Mapfre Malta, commented that, "As part of the MAPFRE Group's initiatives, we are re- minded of our enduring com- mitment to social responsibility and cultural engagement. This exhibition is a testament to that legacy." The exhibition remains open till 18th January 2026. Prints of Goya's Disasters of War exhibited at the Grand Master's Palace until January