The miniature sheet being issued by Maltapost.A new publication on Mattia Preti, complementing the international exhibition Mattia Preti – Faith and Humanity to be held in Malta at the Grandmaster’s Palace in May, is being launched.
The international exhibition is being inaugurated today in Taverna, Italy, to coincide with the 400th anniversary of the birth of the Cavalier Calabrese Mattia Preti.
The book delves further into some of the research questions and new ideas that the exhibition presents for discussion. Jointly published by the Museo Civico di Taverna and Heritage Malta’s National Museum of Fine Arts, Mattia Preti – Beyond the Self-Portrait is a 96-page publication in full colour, featuring essays by the exhibition curators and an introductory résumé written by the acclaimed Italian scholar Giorgio Leone from the Soprintendenza Speciale per il Patrimonio Storico Artistico ed Etnoantropologico e per il Polo Museale of Rome.
The publication presents a new method for the study of Preti and his art. The authors focus on Preti’s membership in the Sovereign Military Order of the Knights of Malta, the reasons that made him seek to become a knight of the Order, the meaning of certain choices he made within the Order, as a knight-painter first of all, and in this capacity as a painter of holy images.
The book goes beyond Preti’s two known self-portraits, as its title implies, to discuss the idealising self-portraits which the artist also paints. Rather than writings in art history, this contribution presents critical texts, which just like texts that accompany catalogues of contemporary artists, tend to uncover their personality and the way they interact with the culture they live in.
The publication has been produced by Midsea Books and includes an English and Italian version.
Art historian to deliver talk on Preti
Meanwhile, as part of this month’s commemorations of the 400th anniversary of Preti’s birth, the St John’s Co-Cathedral Foundation is holding a lecture by renowned art historian John Spike, whose talk is entitled Mattia Preti: If You Seek his Monument…
Prof. Spike is an international authority on the artist and is the name behind major publications such as Mattia Preti – The Collected Documents (published in 1998), and a catalogue raisonné of the artist’s paintings in 1999.
In 2007, Prof. Spike was named to the faculty of the Masters in Sacred Art History at the European University of Rome under the auspices of the Pontifical Commission on Cultural Patrimony. In 2010 he was recognised by the Council of Europe as an expert in the Cultural Heritage of Malta.
In 2012, he joined the staff of the Muscarelle Museum of Art and faculty of The College of William & Mary, Williamsburg, Virginia, the US. Currently he is curating the exhibition, Mattia Preti: A Brush with Passion (1613-1699) Paintings from North American Collections.
“We are extremely proud to be hosting the professor in Malta for this talk. Having an authority such as him addressing the local artistic community is indeed an honour for us and a great way to commemorate Preti’s 400th birthday,” said Cynthia de Giorgio, curator at the St John’s Co-Cathedral Foundation.
Born in Taverna, Italy, in 1613, Preti is one of the major exponents of baroque art of the 17th century who, for 40 years, lived and worked in Malta, leaving a priceless legacy of works. After a long spell working in Rome and nearly a decade in Naples, the artist moved to Malta, attracted by the potential patronage of the knights.
Between 1661 and 1666, he painted the huge vault inside St John’s Co-Cathedral after which he was made Knight of Grace. He spent the remaining 40 years of his life living and working in Malta, until his death on January 3, 1699, and is buried inside St John’s Co-Cathedral.
Prof. Spike’s lecture will take place on Thursday at 6.30pm at St John’s Co-Cathedral. It is open to the public and is free of charge.
Maltapost releases miniature Preti sheet
In honour of the artist, Maltapost is also issuing a miniature sheet bearing two stamps, reproducing two of Preti’s paintings – The Baptism of Christ and the artist’s self-portrait respectively.
The stamps have face value of €0.97 and €1.87. The miniature sheet portrays the image of an angel looking upwards; this picture was crafted by Preti using sanguine (red chalk) on paper.
Together with this miniature sheet, Maltapost will issue a limited-edition silver replica stamp depicting Preti’s self-portrait. This silver replica stamp is a reproduction of the €1.87 stamp and is struck in 999.0 silver.
Each stamp is individually numbered and the issue is limited to a maximum of 2,000 pieces. The stamp will be contained in a presentation box with certificate of authenticity.
The Philatelic Bureau will also publish a commemorative folder, which includes an individually numbered miniature sheet and a short message by Prime Minister Lawrence Gonzi.
These commemorative folders can be reserved so as to also allow collectors to match the folder with the numbered silver replica order.
Orders may be placed online at maltaphilately.com or by sending an e-mail to info@maltaphilately.com.