As part of the Caravaggio and Paintings of Realism exhibition being organised by The St John’s Co-Cathedral Foundation a one-off symposium is being held to discuss the painter. Art scholars of the great artist will gather at the Grand Master’s Palace in Valletta this Saturday.
The line-up of guest speakers, both Maltese and internationally based, will include Philip Farrugia Randon, John Gash and David Stone. The president of The St John’s Co-Cathedral Foundation, Paul A. Attard said that holding an event of this kind fulfils one of the aims of the Foundation for the exhibition will not only bring more awareness of the high standards of Maltese artistic heritage but will also promote study on the subject.
The chairman of the symposium will be Keith Sciberras from the University of Malta. Dr Sciberras has published several papers and is involved in research regarding the influences of Caravaggio.
Dr Randon is an expert on art, law and history and has published various books regarding Caravaggio. He has also given a number of public lectures, including one entitled Caravaggio Knight of Malta.
Coming to Malta from the University of Aberdeen, Dr Gash is a principal figure in the field of baroque art. He has published several pieces on Caravaggio and is currently engaged on a book on Caravaggio's followers, entitled Caravaggism.
Prof. Stone from the University of Delaware, USA is a leading authority on Caravaggio's later works and a foremost scholar on the social and religious contexts within which the 17th-Century Italian painter worked.
These four scholars will be presenting innovative information which will shed new light on the art of Caravaggio in Malta and also on the Caravaggisti who followed the art of Caravaggio while in Malta as well as his works executed in Rome, Naples and Sicily.
Those who wish to attend the symposium are to collect an invitation from the offices of St John’s Co-Cathedral, Valletta or apply on line to: [email protected]. The symposium will begin at 9.30am and guests are to be seated by 9.15am.
For more information visit www.stjohnscocathedral.com