Attributed to Anton Schranz (1769-1839) - Malta Harbour - RCIN 406555 - Royal Collection (restored)

Attributed to Anton Schranz (1769-1839) - A View of Malta - RCIN 407281 - Royal Collection (restored)
Anton Schranz, father of the artist Giovanni Schranz, specialised in painting and engraving landscapes and seascapes, notably of Valetta in Malta. He lived most of his life in Minorca, where he produced similar compositions of Port Mahon, before moving to Malta in 1817. There he found patronage amongst British naval officers who bought his works as topographical souvenirs.
This painting forms a pair with RCIN 404788. It depicts Valletta harbour from which a Man of War puts to sea, with other smaller vessels close to the shore in the foreground; with several groups of figures on the rocky shore below the harbour wall. In the distance the harbour fortifications appear with two windmills on the horizon.

First recorded at Buckingham Palace, June 1876