18th century Maltese Lateen-Rigged Brigantine

3D Model

The versatile and nimble lateen-rigged brigantine made her debut in Maltese waters around the fifteenth century. In the course of four hundred years the brigantine evolved into a favourite with Maltese merchants and corsairs. Brigantines were used both for commerce and fighting. The Order of St John deployed them as auxiliaries, reconnaissance, and port and guard duties. In 1664-1665 the Dutch painter Willem Schellinkx (1623-1678) visited and sketched Malta. He represented a lateen rigged brigantine with two masts. By the eighteenth century the vessel became larger and received a third mast, otherwise her configuration changed little. Grand Master de Vilhena’s ceremonial barge was brigantine rigged.