As I am writing this on Friday, there is a storm happening outside and winter is definitely with us. Some proper rain at last. I welcome the duvet, warm dressing gowns and hot soups and chocolate which winter brings with it, with open arms.  I've had more than enough of the long, hot summer. Most of us have.

The winter issue of Treasures of Malta must be round the corner. Yet, although I've browsed through the summer issue and read some of it, I have done nothing about it and it is sitting on my conscience. So here is some idea of what you can read in it.

My favourite article in this 80-plus pager is about the Count of Beaujolais.     In an article which is thirteen pages long, well- documented and illustrated Perit Konrad Buhagiar covers a great deal of ground. The article is entitled The Prince and the Painter: Identifying the Count of Beaujolais. The painter in the title is Charles Allingham(c.1778-1850). Why did Konrad write this article? This architect needs no introduction as his work in restoration and his writings are well known and appreciated. He followed up this story because he was intrigued "by the captivating portrait of a young man in regency dress ." Two decades later he embarks on a search to reveal the identity of the enigmatic sitter. Did the lives of the painter and the count (1779-1808) overlap, he asks.

Since seeing the Count of Beaujolais's tomb at St John's and learning of his early death at the age of 33 years I have had a soft spot for him. To die so young and outside one's own country strikes me as being so very sad.

This article is such an enjoyable read.  I even enjoyed reading the notes. The way the author pieced it together over the years, piece by piece, is impressive. Of course, you will tell me, that is what research is all about. Yes, I know. It takes so many qualities to follow up and then come up with an interesting story and the author has these qualities.   This issue of Treasures is  worth buying for this article alone.

The distinguished scholar and historian, Thomas Freller who has written so much about Malta and here is another one entitled Faith, Glory, and Mystery: The Intriguing History of the Right Hand of St John the Baptist. "Through the notes of medieval and modern chroniclers who visited Rhodes and Malta the author adds another chapter to the captivating narrative behind one of the most favoured treasures of the Order of St John."

This is a very detailed article about the fortunes of the arm of St John who after all baptised Christ. Or was it a finger and not an arm after all. Is it the right arm or the left arm? Has it got two fingers missing or just one?  Was it only a fragment.  I need to read it carefully again to really understand it properly and since I am not that interested I am not going to do so but I will say a prayer to St John instead. However,  one thing is certain: there was a cult of this holy finger  at least back "in the spring of 1633" as witnessed by a Swabian officer: "From various parts of Catholic Europe, rings were sent to St John's church to  be brought in contact with this finger. These are then sent back to their owners and are judged as precious objects of devotion and also to have healing powers. These rings then are called S. Johannis-Ring." Faith brings hope. It always has. Professor Freller gives us excerpts from many who visited Malta and commented on this famous relic. How lucky that he set his sights on Malta and thanks to his research we got to know more about our history.

Judge Giovanni Bonello, so prolific, wrote a ten-page article, European Fortuna of Caravaggio's Beheading of St John. The making of articles and books on Caravaggio's Beheading is endless. There is always another angle to discover, a detail and so on. This painting is world famous. Especially if you are a Caravaggio devotee you cannot possibly miss reading what one of our stars has written and make sure this copy of Treasures is in your collection.

I loved looking at the illustrations in the article by Nicole Baldacchino entitled Juan Patricio Morlete Ruiz (1713-1772): Views of Europe and Beyond. The author brings to light a set of Mexican works found in Malta and their connection to the Order of St John. This set of paintings is dispersed between Verdala and San Anton Palace. How did a Mexican artist come to paint Mediterranean port views and views of France and Italy. The author considers the Mexican artistic context at the time. How did the set in Malta come to be here?  Again the author has managed to weave a most interesting and detailed story through goodness knows how many months, probably years, of research.

If I ever get the chance to visit Verdala and San Anton again I shall look at these works of art with very different eyes.

I will stop here today, but continue to comment on the rest of this issue as soon as I find the space.

Enjoy our mild winter.

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