4. The chapel of the Langue of France
The chapel of the Langue of France was dedicated, by Grand Master La Cassiere himself, to the Conversion of the Great Apostle St Paul. The entire chapel was profusely decorated with rich sculptural motifs and gilded during the 1660 redecoration of the church and then underwent further redecoration during the nineteenth century. The generous distribution of fleur-de-lys in the passage way, as well as on the interior walls, proclaim the supremacy of the French crown. The dome of the chapel is also profusely decorated with large fleur-de-lys, crowned and supported by two angels. The walls were decorated in 1838 with the crowned cross of St John representing the Order and the fleur-de-lys of the Langue of France.
The altar of the Chapel of France is a simple and elegant work in white marble. The altar piece depicts ‘The Conversion of St Paul’ as he was thrown off his horse on his way to Damascus. It is the work of the renowned artist Mattia Preti. One of the paintings decorating the lunettes depicts ‘The Shipwreck of St Paul in Malta’ whilst the other depicts ‘The Beheading of St Paul in Rome.’ They are the work of the German artist Lukas Kilian.
The altar and reredos were originally installed in 1614, as testified by an inscription in the chapel.
The chapel holds three magnificent funerary monuments.
The monument to Grand Master Adrien de Wignacourt (who was the nephew of Grand Master Alof de Wignacourt) is sited on the Epistle side. It is made out of white marble and surmounted by his coat of arms with an open crown accompanied with the trumpet and banners of Fame. A festoon of flowers and fruit is gracefully draped above the cornice. In the centre of the monument is a gilded bronze oval depicting the portrait of the Grand Master. The remains of the Grand Master lie in a black marble urn which holds an inscription in praise of the Grand Master’s virtues and achievements.
The monument of Grand Master Fra Emmanuel de Rohan is situated on the right of the altar. It is made out of pure white marble. An urn holds the remains of the Grand Master with the coat of arms emblazoned on it. Placed on a marble pedestal is the Grand Master’s bust, cast in bronze and accompanied by a beautiful display of war trophies. Two shields rest upon it, one bearing an eagle and scales… symbols of Virtue and Justice, whilst the other holds the image of a Pelican as a symbol of Charity.
The monument to the left of the altar is that of Marquis de Wignacourt. Whilst on a visit to his brother (the Grand Master at the time) he fell ill and died in 1615. It consists of a beautiful, intricate design forming a catafalque made up of intersected marbles. It is then surmounted by the arms of the Wignacourt family. It was erected by the Grand Master in memory of his brother.
The most interesting monument to be found in this chapel is that of Vicomte de Beaujolais. He was the brother of King Louis Philippe of France and happened to die whilst he was in Malta on 29th May 1808. The monument is in pure white marble and was commissioned by the King himself. The marble plaque at the rear of the monument was installed to mark his burial place. The full length reclining figure of the count was commissioned by the King in 1843. It is the work of the French sculptor Jacques Pradier.