Heritage Malta is hosting another lecture in the series of public lectures sponsored by the Farsons Foundation. Professor Mario Buhagiar will deliver a lecture entitled “The Socio-Political Setting for an Architecture of Baroque Triumphalism” on Thursday at 6.30pm at Heritage Malta Head Office in Valletta. Admission is free and the lecture will be in English.

The 18th century was a time of economic well being and political stability for Malta. The Knights of the Order of St John were renowned for their gracious living and cultured sophistication. The ethos of the century is captured in the polished elegance of the portraits, genre paintings and carnival and festive scenes of Antoine Favray who first came to Malta in 1744 and was so captivated by the genius of the place that he made its adoptive home.

Two Grand Masters who left a massive impact were Don Antonio Manuel de Vilhena (1722–1736) and Don Emanuel Pinto de Fonseca (1741–1773). Professor Buhagiar’s lecture is a first attempt to view the architectural achievements of these two Grand Masters in a meaningful socio-artistic context. The two Portuguese Grand Masters must be credited with giving Malta some of the finest Late Baroque buildings.

Professor Buhagiar is president of the Malta Historical Society and head of the Department of History of Art at the University of Malta. He is the author of books and learned articles on art historical and related subjects that include The Iconography of the Maltese Islands and The Art and Architecture of Late Medieval Malta.