The Italian painter Francesco Noletti who is also known under the name Francesco Fieravino was probably born in Malta. Because of his origin he has been called 'Il Maltese'. Researchers assume that the artist went to Rome around 1640 where he worked for the families Colonna, Buonvisi, Barberini, Avila, Triti and Costaguti. Furthermore, duke Francesco Cesarini was a patron of the artist.

Noletti mainly painted eye-catching still lifes with carpets which are characterized by the diversity of objects exceeding the traditional genre represented by still lifes with flowers and fruits. There are no signed paintings known by the artist. But a lot of works were identified by researchers based on the...