Every picture tells more than one story

Series Title
Series Details 20/06/96, Volume 2, Number 25
Publication Date 20/06/1996
Content Type

Date: 20/06/1996

Malta is pulling out all the stops in its bid to become the 16th member of the European Union.

The country will be displaying its famous Caravaggio painting of the Beheading of St John the Baptist at a special exhibition in Florence this weekend to coincide with the European summit.

The world famous painting will be on display at the Palazzo Vecchio after being housed in Malta for almost four centuries.

The temporary exhibition is designed to confirm the country's links with the Union, but perhaps there is also another reason - the painting is badly in need of repair and the city of Florence has offered to cover the restoration costs.

Will this now start a trend? What displays can we expect to see at the Dublin summit in December? Can Cyprus or the Central and East Europeans trump Malta's bid?

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