Mattia Preti’s St George on Horseback in the Chapel of the Aragonese Langue at St John’s co-Cathedral is one of the master’s earliest known paintings commissioned in Malta.

Painted by Preti in the latter part of the 1650s, the chosen representation of St George is indeed particular and relates effectively to the role of the painting as the titular piece of the chapel of the Aragonese langue.

The painting was recently restored at the Istituto Centrale per il Restauro in Rome and in-depth studies into the historical, technical and artistic significance of the painting have also been published.

A reassessment of key elements, particularly those related to the military exploits that Preti included in the background of the painting, provides new insight into this commission and its cultural significance for the Aragonese langue.

This new data provides a clearer historic reading of the painting. It also highlights the intricate historic relationship that existed between the Order of St John and St George, as represented in Preti’s painting.

Sandro Debono will give new insights into the painting at a lecture he will be delivering tomorrow at 3pm at the Gateway Building Hall D1 at the university.

Mr Debono is Senior Curator at Heritage Malta. He is currently finalising his MA research into History of Art at the University of Malta