EXHIBITION "IN THE TIME OF THE GREAT MASTER JEAN-PAUL DE LASCARIS. NICE, MALTA AND THE MEDITERRANEAN"

MAY 7 - NOVEMBER 3, 2025

PALAIS LASCARIS - BIENNALE OF ARTS AND THE OCEAN

The exhibition will highlight the Lascaris family and more particularly the Lascaris-Ventimiglia branch: the origins of the Counts of Ventimiglia and the Lascaris of Liguria (XIV – XVth century). An important focus will be placed on the figure of Jean-Paul Lascaris (1560 – 1657) who was Grand Master of the Order of Malta (1636-1657), then at its peak. Similarly, part of the exhibition will highlight the creation of the Palais Lascaris (built for Jean-Paul Lascaris' nephew, Jean-Baptiste Lascaris) and its history.

Through the history of the Lascaris, the question of the nobles in the County of Nice and their relationship with the Order of Malta in the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries will be evoked more broadly.

The exhibition will also highlight the maritime and hospitaller aspect of the Order of Malta in the sixteenth, seventeenth and eighteenth centuries. Sections such as "Serving on the Sea" with the Battles of Lepanto and the Squadron War and "Becoming a Knight" will be discussed.

Relations between Malta and Nice were important at this time, especially as Nice had been a free port since 1612, which considerably increased its maritime opening, as Malta served as a stopover for Nice merchants to the ports on the south shore.

Open every day from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., except Tuesdays

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