An outstanding collection of Maltese 20th century art is going under the hammer of Obelisk Auctions at Villa Licari, Triq L-Imdina, Balzan on May 30.

This is one of the largest collections of modern and contemporary 20th century Maltese art to come up for auction. It includes works by the major protagonists of modern Malta including Emvin Cremona, Willie Apap, Vincent Apap, Giuseppe Briffa, Antoine Camilleri, Giorgio Preca and Carmelo Mangion among others. Of considerable importance is a rare large academy oil on canvas female nude by Emvin Cremona and two other oil paintings of female nudes by Giuseppe Briffa and Willie Apap respectively.

Other works by Apap include a pair of ballerina paintings and a number of smaller works executed while the artist was in prison.

The collection boasts of a Christ by Carmelo Mangion, abstract works by Emvin Cremona and a portrait of the artist's wife by Antoine Camilleri. The latter is one of the first modernist portraits executed in Malta. There are also a number of female nudes by Joseph Bellia.

The auction includes a selection of Maltese early 18th century furniture, a rare Maltese clock, a fine collection of rare 16th, 17th and 18th century maps of Malta, and topographical views of Malta, including signed works by J. Schranz and N. Cammillieri.