Heritage Malta, following research carried out internally, have chosen to defend their €75,000 purchase of an original Mattia Preti painting, saying that the evidence found so far all points towards it being an original.
Principal restorer Anthony Spagnol said that it is undoubtedly original. In a press briefing this morning, members from Heritage Malta explained that there were clear references to Preti attributions when Ariccia (the acquired painting) came up on the market traced back to the 60s.
Senior curator Sandro Debono said that from their own research, the only evidence they could find to call into question whether it was just Preti who was the painter was a reference in a book where it said that there could have been the intervention of another artist. He added that even so, on a painting that big it is not uncommon to receive assistance, “this is the way things were done,” Mr Debono said. This contrasts starkly with comments made that the painting was actually done in one of Mr Preti’s workshops and not by him.
Heritage Malta bought the painting from a French auction house called Artcurial. It was presented to them as an original Mattia Preti painting, Mr Debono said, adding that the auction house has a reputation to maintain.
Controversy arose after Keith Sciberras, head of the Department of History of Art at the University of Malta, insisted the painting was part of a replica by Preti’s workshop. Asked to comment on this, Mr Debono said that anyone is within their rights to form an opinion, but insisted that they had carried out extensive research, and what they found all pointed towards the painting being an original.
It was said that the auction house was bound to a two-year guarantee, therefore should new information come to light it would either renegotiate the price with Heritage Malta or negotiate a return all-together.
The painting acquired is just one-third of the bigger picture, one at Aricicca in Italy, while the other is being kept in a private collection.
Mr Debono insisted that this was an academic discussion, and that new evidence come to light that would lead them to believe otherwise would be part of the academic process.
“Paintbrush strokes, the preparatory work prior to the painting stage and the actual canvas all pointed towards this being an original piece by Mr Preti,” said Mr Debono.
It was said that Heritage Malta’s budget was €85,000, however they managed to acquire the piece for €10,000 less.