Acquisitions for the national collection from the George Borg Olivier auction

Heritage Malta has purchased 16 lots from the auction held at former Prime Minister George Borg Olivier’s house in Sliema on June 27.

It said that its include a pair of still life paintings by Antonio Tibaldi (1635-1675) whose works rarely featured in public collections.

The Italian artist is considered to be a follower of Francesco Fieravino (1610-1660) better known as il Maltese. This acquisition has already attracted the attention of the international art community and is considered a significant addition to the National Collection.

Other items include a portrait of Bishop Alpheran (circle of Francesco Zahra 1701-1773); a caricature by Giorgio Preca; a gouache painting of the monument to Sir Alexander Ball a number of portraits and an Apollo 13 mission patch and fragment of heat shield presented to Dr Borg Olivier by its astronauts.

Following light restoration and cleaning processes on the items acquired, Heritage Malta will present them to them public in an exhibition to be announced shortly.