21. Ciro Ferri Hall
The Graduals of L-Isle Adam: The largest and most important set consists of 10 choral books and is the gift of Grand Master L-Isle Adam. This set of illuminated choral books is called ‘graduals’ and consist of chants for the mass of the Roman church and accompany the communion service.
Each choral book features large initials of exceptional beauty, using gold leaf as a background, adding to their brilliance. These splendid miniatures (as they are called due to their minute detail) have been executed by different hands, with each painter reflecting the current artistic trend. As a result, they are a mixture of Gothic and Renaissance styles.
Over the past century the history of the provenance of these manuscripts has been a subject of debate amongst historians. However, it is the choral books themselves that throw light on the date. Within a decorated initial, the date 1533 is found together with the motto of the Order, Pour le foy (meaning, for the religion).
The Verdalle Antiphonaries: Another set of choral books, bearing the arms of Grand Master Verdalle, is included in this collection. Referred to as antiphonaries, they contain the sung parts of the divine office (the musical sections used during daily services, at the various canonical hours of the day that do not feature in graduals).
The Verdalle antiphonaries number seven in total and contain the Proper and Common of saints. All are in parchment and accommodate 150 illuminated initials each.
Antonie de Paule’s Antiphonaries: The collection of Grand Master Antonie de Paule consists of two manuscripts in parchment. They are antiphonaries for the Temporal cycle of the church year.
Ciro Ferri Hall also houses the monstrance that was made to house the relic of St John the Baptist’s forearm. It was a most precious relic for the Order as this was the relic of the hand that baptised Christ in the river Jordan.
The monstrance was ordered by Italian Grand Master Gregorio Carafa whose coat of arms you can see prominently displayed. It is made of bronze and gilt with silver ornaments and was cast in Rome by Ciro Ferri, a well known sculptor whose style was particularly influenced by the leading Baroque sculptor Gianlorenzo Bernini. The relic had a golden reliquary studded with precious stones. However, this was confiscated in 1798 when Napoleon invaded Malta. The relic itself was taken out of Malta by the last Grand Master Ferdinand von Hompesch as he fled the island.
More of the Flemish tapestries are also displayed in this hall.