I have always been an enthusiast of portraits and when Kenneth Wain's study came along, it was one of the books that were on my shopping list for the Christmas period. To my mind, the art of portraiture brings about a certain nostalgic feeling and recalls ghostly endeavours as that particular moment is never recaptured again, like a moment in time to cherish forever.

I met Raymond Pitre' once, I believe it was in the year 1994 at a social event when all we talked about was classical music, in particular both waxing lyrical on Brahms' Fourth Symphony. Although I was still in the banking scene at that time, I remember being completely bowled over by the man's enthusiasm and genuine depth of feeling for all things musical.

So more than ten years after that event when so much water has passed under the bridge, this magnificent book comes into my hands and this time, it was my turn to be bowled over by Pitre's stunning and almost incredible amount of portraits. Kenneth Wain's biographical introduction is succinct, yet also quite fastidiously detailed and provides the reader with an ideal introduction to Pitre's style, art and at times, tortured progress throughout the years.

But what about the portraits themselves? More than half the book is taken up by them and they make fascinating viewing. From the intense personal studies of the artist's family to the stern members of the judiciary onto politicians and other men of business, there is one common thread that runs through and that is humanity.

There are too many portraits to go into detail but one that particularly struck me was the wistful and almost unbearably beautiful portrait of Madeline Schembri whose grace, elegance and poise are magnificently captured in addition to her lovely face. The portraits of Gorg Pisani and Guze' Galea are also remarkably lifelike and wistful as are those of Tonio Portughese, Nazzareno Vassallo, Archpriest Joseph Farrugia and Dun Guzepp Theuma, whom I fondly remember as Parish Priest of Gzira when I had just come to live in that harbour town.

The famous portraits of Prime Ministers Dom Mintoff, Karmenu Mifsud Bonnici, Alfred Sant and Edward Fenech Adami are by now quite familiar with their distinct poses truly capturing the spirit of these remarkable four personalities. The same can be said of Pitre's portraits of Presidents, Anthony Mamo, Censu Tabone, Ugo Mifsud Bonnici and Guido De Marco with the other two Prime Ministers, Paul Boffa and George Borg Olivier caught in some rather unusual poses.

Pitre' has a particular knack for painting members of the judiciary in their imposing full attire with the portraits of Tancred Gouder, Agostino Gauci Maistre and Luigi Camilleri particularly striking. The portraits of the children, especially those of Pitre's immediate family are also extremely beautiful and expressive.

I could go on forever, naming this and that portrait but what is undeniably clear from this book is Pitre's uncanny ability to paint that particular moment, frozen in time that will remain for posterity. Well done to Kenneth Wain who has done a sterling job in preserving the magnificent contribution of Ray Pitre's art and making it available to a wider public to cherish and enjoy.

On a personal note, the art of portraiture is truly a special part of the artistic canon. Pitre' surely follows in the footsteps of those great artists before him such as Willie Apap and Esprit Barthet, Giuseppe Cali and his own relative Anton Inglott. For me, the greatest example of portraiture remains Willie Apap's 'The Ganado Sisters' where that sense of innocence and fragility against a stunning backdrop of Valletta's rooftops captures the essence of true magic, a moment in time never to come again.