Caravaggio’s 17th century masterpiece Portrait of a Knight of Malta was yesterday brought to St John’s Co-Cathedral, on loan from Galleria Palatina, Palazzo Pitti in Florence.

The painting is on show at the Co-Cathedral in Valletta, forming part of an exhibition entitled “Caravaggio and Paintings of Realism in Malta”, which is being organised by the St John’s Co-Cathedral Foundation as part of the 400th anniversary celebrations of the artist’s arrival in Malta.

The foundation will also be organising a symposium at the Grandmaster’s Palace in Valletta on Saturday.

The line-up of guest speakers, both Maltese and internationally based, will include Philip Farrugia Randon, Keith Sciberras, John Gash and David Stone.

These four scholars will be presenting innovative information that 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 would like to attend the symposium should collect an invitation from the offices of St John’s Co-Cathedral, Valletta or apply online by sending an email to info@stjohns

cocathedral.com. The symposium will begin at 9.30am, but guests should be seated by 9.15am.

Further information can be obtained from www.stjohnscocathedral.com.

Portrait of a Knight of Malta was loaned by Palazzo Pitti courtesy of the Tourism and Culture Ministry, the Sopritendenza Speciale per il Polo Museale, Galleria Palatina, the Italian Embassy in Malta, the Malta Council for Culture and the Arts, University of Malta, St John’s Co-Cathedral Foundation, Air Malta, Carmelo Caruana Co. Ltd, Joinwell Co Ltd. and Valletta local council.