The building housing this museum dates from 1571. It was built as the residence of a French knight, Jean de Soubrian. On his death, the house was acquired by the Order and was leased to several distinguished knights, amongst them the Bailli de Suffren, Captain General of the Galleys, who lived in the premises during the last few years of the Order.
In 1808, Charles d'Orleans, brother of the future King Louis Philippe of France, was landed from a ship in Malta suffering from a serious illness. He died in this house and was then buried in the Chapel of France in St. John's Cathedral.
The British Naval Authorities acquired the premises and made it the residence of the Naval Commander-in-Chief. Since 1921, it became known as Admiralty House. Several well known admirals lived there. Plaques bearing their names are on the walls of either side of the staircase landing.
The grand stairway consists of two flights of semi-circular steps which meet at the piano nobile. Its fine baroque ornamentation is unique in Malta. It gives this mansion a touch of affluence and elegance.
The Museum occupies thirty rooms in two storeys and a basement. The exhibits are displayed by schools in chronological order.
The first floor, is made up of 13 rooms arranged around the large stairway. On display are paintings ranging from the 14th to the 17th centuries, representing early Gothic religious pictures, and canvases of Italian, Venetian and Dutch schools. Plaster models by the well-known local sculptor, Antonio Sciortino (1879-1947) are on show in a room overlooking the harbour. Sciortino spent most of his artistic life abroad, but he produced a number of fine bronzes in Malta, such as the statue of Christ the King in Floriana, and the Les Gavroches group at the Upper Barracca Gardens in Valletta.
The largest three galleries in the piano nobile have on display several sizable canvases depicting allegorical and biblical scenes. Rooms No.12 and 13 are entirely devoted to Mattia Preti, the versatile artist who painted the vault of St. John's Cathedral.
The ground floor: Room No. 14 displays paintings by Antoine de Favray (1706-1798). These are mostly portraits of Grand Masters and paintings of Maltese interiors. Rooms No.15 to 19 show interesting canvases by French and Italian artists, and several oil paintings with scenes of old Valletta.
Rooms 20 to 24 give prominence to works of Maltese artists, such as Caruana Dingli, Erardi, Pullicino, Cali, Apap, Inglott and some present day artists.
The basement has on display a miscellany of art works and objects from the period of the Knights, such as, religious relics, antiques, medicine jars, weights and measures, and models of ships and forts.
A notable collection of coins of the Order is preserved in a reconditioned cistern beneath the courtyard.
The corridors around the central courtyard are reserved for exhibitions of contemporary art.
