The annual exhibition organised by Malta Libraries,  SUNETTI: Minn Fomm u Qalb il-Poplu, opened at the National Library of Malta, Valletta  till the end of December 2022. The exhibit will then move to the Hall within the Ministry for Gozo on 3 February 2023 where it will stay on for an entire month

Among the many treasures housed at the National Library of Malta, as well as that of Gozo, is an extensive collection of sonnets. Most of these sonnets are generally in the form of poems written in honour or appreciation of a saint or a prominent person, or on special occasions. The subjects of the sonnets range from religious to political or satirical themes. Owing to their ephemeral nature, many of these sonnets may have been lost. Those that have survived, despite being a valuable resource, are not adequately appreciated. 

“Sunetti” are most often understood to be those distinctive fourteen-line poems, most notably those known as “Petrarchan” and “Shakespearean” respectively. In the Maltese islands the term began to be applied to printed verses written in praise of the patron saint of the parish which were thrown down from the roofs of churches during the village feasts. Sonnets were also written in honour of prominent people in the political, religious and cultural spheres, as well as on special occasions and events. Generally speaking the verses of these poems did not have the proper poetic structure of a sonnet, but were still known as such. The poems were usually printed on very fine, coloured and highly decorative paper. Eventually, even the small bits of paper that largely replaced the printed poems, which are also thrown from roofs during a feast, became known as “sunetti”.

Sonnets within the National collection consist of those printed on a single sheet, others grouped in collections, some printed in books and some in manuscript form, both Maltese and foreign. The sonnets cover a span of over 400 years and are of diverse provenance. 

For this exhibition, the National Library of Malta and that of Gozo have selected a significant amount of sonnet exemplars from their respective collections, so that they may be enjoyed by those who visit the exhibition. Another aim of the exhibition is to generate interest in this valuable resource, in the hope that it will be appreciated and studied as it deserves. 

 Prof. William Zammit and Dr Olvin vella will be delivering two public lectures about the subject in question on 10 of November at 6pm and on 1 December at 6pm respectively. The public is encouraged to attend and is reminded that entrance to both the exhibition during library opening hours as well as to the lectures is free of charge.