Members' event

The Inquisitor's Porcelain in 18th century Malta exhibition tour and Inquisitor's Palace experience

19 October 

Inquisitor's Palace, Birgu 

The Inquisitor is often seen purely as a religious legal figure, charged with enforcing canon law and suppressing heresy. However, Inquisitors were also learned and cultured dignitaries, living an active public life. Whereas we often marvel at the air of sophistication which transpires from this baroque palazzo and the corresponding archives, fragmentary porcelain dinner plates and coffee drinking sets are now tangibly opening a window onto its equally refined material culture enjoyed by the Inquisitors. All the materials on display were found during archaeological investigations within the Inquisitor’s Palace and are directly related to the style of life as it was experienced by the Inquisitors’ in the Baroque period.

Kenneth Cassar will help us explore the culturally refined habitus characteristic of the Inquisitor’s establishment in 18th century Malta, while Nathaniel Cutajar will be illustrating the exhibition concepts based on his ongoing study of the archaeological materials recovered during excavations which started in 1998.

Time: 0930 hours and will last around 2 hours

Price: This event is free of charge and open to Heritage Malta members only. Members are requested to issue a ticket, available from all Heritage Malta museums and sites.