Belshazzar's Feast

4 October 1651

Summoned to the court of Francesco I d’Este in Modena

On 4 October 1651 Francesco I d’Este summoned him to the court of Modena to carry out commissioned works.

1653

Moves to Naples

He first appears in the records in Naples in March 1653; he quickly became a prominent figure in Neapolitan artistic circles.

1653–1661

A relationship of mutual influence with the young Luca Giordano

In Naples he developed a mutually influential relationship with the younger Luca Giordano; together they contributed to the development of the Neapolitan school of painting in the second half of the century. For the young Neapolitan artist, Preti acted as a bridge between the early naturalism of the first half of the century and the fully-fledged Baroque style.

summer 1659

A trip to Malta: Knight of Grace of the Order

In the summer of 1659 he travelled to Malta, where he was made a Knight of Grace in the Order of St John and visited the Order’s headquarters.

1660

Commissioned to decorate the vault of St John’s Co-Cathedral

In 1660 he was commissioned to decorate the vault of St John’s Co-Cathedral in Valletta, the church of the Order of Malta.

1661–1699

Malta: work for the island and for all of Europe

From 1661 he worked in Malta: besides the cathedral decoration he realised several paintings on the island for private patrons and parish churches, and his increased reputation brought him commissions from all over Europe. His major works in Malta include the “Conversion of Saint Paul” in St Paul’s Cathedral in Mdina, commissioned by the Knights Hospitaller, and the “Madonna and Child with Saints John the Baptist and Anthony Abbot” in the chapel of Verdala Palace in Siġġiewi.