Fondazzjoni Patrimonju Malti (FPM) is holding an exhibition entitled The Devil of the Brush at  Palazzo Falson in Mdina.

It moves away from the examination of objects for their type and function and explores concepts and their manifestation in art.

Carmelo Mangion: View of Msida, mid-20th century, Oil on cardboard – private collection.

It celebrates speed and virtuosity and explores the dynamics between artistic invention and technical brilliance through paintings, statuary, drawings, modelli and bozzetti executed by the major protagonists of Maltese art between 1650 and 2000.

It is also different in that the focus of this exhibition did not stem from an artefact that belonged to Olof Gollcher. Rather, the subject matter was left up to the guest curator who selected the theme that was to be explored.

The result is a collaboration between FPM and the head of the Department of Art and Art History at the University of Malta, Keith Sciberras.

The 19 carefully selected exhibits are by Mattia Preti, Melchiorre Cafà, Francesco Zahra, Antoine Favray, Edward Lear, Giuseppe Calì, Edward Caruana Dingli, Antonio Sciortino, Carmelo Mangion, Vincent and Willie Apap, Julian Trevelyan, Josef Kalleya and Antoine Camilleri. That is, they range from the mid-17th and 20th centuries, and the artists are Maltese or had a connection with Malta.

The artists’ fiery disposition when executing these works with technical virtuosity is beautifully coupled with the exhibition display and ambience.

The Devil of the Brush is open until March 25 at Palazzo Falson Historic House Museum in Mdina. Entrance is free of charge.