About 250 of Edward Caruana Dingli's oil paintings and watercolours from various collections, public and private, local and foreign, adorn the State Rooms of the President's Palace, in Valletta.
The display, mounted by Fondazzjoni Patrimonju Malti, includes portraits of Maltese politicians, British governors, scholars and prominent members of the clergy. A number of watercolours depict Maltese landscapes and villages, young beautiful women and country folk going about their daily lives.
The artist (1876-1950) is considered one of the most admired painters of the past century. Talented, ambitious and well-connected, he became the most sought after portrait painter of his time. In 1913, he gave up his military career to fulfil his long-standing ambition of becoming a professional artist. He was 37 at the time and well acquainted with the Maltese elite and British government in Malta. His artistic reputation was widespread and his oeuvre unrestricted and he received significant, perhaps even enviable, commissions both locally and abroad.
As the society painter du jour, Caruana Dingli immortalised his patrons with life-like flesh tones, flattering his sitters with his brush, enhancing either their already beautiful features or maybe even correcting some not so perfect ones. His female portraits usually had a decorative quality to them. He often included flowers in them either held by his sitters or incorporated in their dresses, transparent veil or shawl draped around their arms.
When not painting portraits, he turned his eyes to the Maltese countryside, the coast and village squares. Being a true romantic, he often beautified all that he painted. While not completely true to life, these paintings celebrate the essence of Malta but with a hint of idealism.
In 1923, he won first, second and third place in a competition held by the Tourist Committee for a poster to advertise Malta. The posters were to be used at the British Empire Exhibition in 1924 and for general propaganda abroad.
The oil paintings and watercolours on display at the President's Palace echo the artist's talent, ambition and dedication. It was these qualities that saw him go straight to the top.
Given his voluminous output and influence on 20th century art in Malta, an exhibition of his works was long overdue.
Patrimonju is resuming the setting up of its lavish exhibitions after having spent the last eight years working on the restoration of Palazzo Falson, now open as a historic house museum in Mdina.
Patrimonju's 11th exhibition is open daily between 10 a.m. and 5 p.m. (last admission at 4) until June 6.
www.patrimonju.org