Artists have paid tribute to Maurice Tanti Burlò, hailing him as a brilliant cartoonist whose witty cartoons teased and trivialised the political convictions, actions and decisions of people in power.

Also known by his pseudonym Nalizpelra, Mr Tanti Burlò passed away aged 78 on Wednesday, following 37 years as a cartoonist to Times of Malta and The Sunday Times of Malta.

His cartoon portraying former Prime Minister Dom Mintoff as a lion which had just gulped down then Prime Minister Alfred Sant – leaving his wig untouched – is arguably the best cartoon ever published in Malta, according to cartoonist Steve Bonello.

“It broke a lot of taboos. I love the fact that the main subject is not even seen, except for the hint of the wig. It tells a story without being too obvious – just beautiful.

“His dome-head series in the late 1970s were the first political cartoons I had seen in my life. When he started out, such cartoons were a necessity because they helped keep in check the irrational behaviour of people in power.”

Graphically, Mr Tanti Burlò was brilliant, he continued.

“He was able to reinvent and depict a person the way he wanted you to perceive them. Case in point is the dome-head series featuring Dom Mintoff and the way that Alfred Sant was always illustrated without a mouth.

“It’s a technique also used by Steve Bell in The Guardian where [former British Prime Minister] Tony Blair was characterised by one glaring eye. It’s a visual element which is very strong.”

Illustrator Nadine Noko described Mr Tanti Burlò as one of the top satirical artists in Malta with a kind heart, a good eye and a great hand.

“Humour is one of the most important pillars of democracy. Tanti Burlò managed to pass his message across even in times when our democracy was threatened. His cartoons are a part of our history as much as Richard Ellis’s photography archive.”