Renowned author, artist and philanthropist Philip Farrugia Randon has died at the age of 76.

A lawyer by profession, Farrugia Randon was widely respected for a multifaceted career that spanned literature, art, broadcasting and public service. He graduated as a notary in 1972 and as a lawyer in 1973, while also working in radio and television broadcasting.

An accomplished watercolourist and art scholar, he wrote extensively on major artists such as Caravaggio and J.M.W. Turner. Among his best-known publications are Caravaggio in Malta, Caravaggio - Knight of Malta, and Turner's Malta Watercolours. He was also a published poet and a long-time contributor to the Times of Malta.

In 2004, Farrugia Randon was appointed president of the Cana Movement, and in 2005 he was awarded membership in the National Order of Merit in recognition of his service.

He was deeply involved with the Sovereign Military Order of Malta, having been admitted as a Knight of Magistral Grace in 2000 and later serving as president of its Maltese association.

Farrugia Randon also created the character Puttinu for a children's book, a creation that inspired the establishment of the major charitable organisation Puttinu Cares, which supports patients and families facing serious illness.

Tributes have begun to pour in from across Maltese society. Archbishop Charles Scicluna described him as "a loyal friend, a true gentleman, a dedicated patriot, and a cherished husband and father."