Caravaggio painting of Knight of Malta returns after 400 years!

This news is pubslished in a Press Release from Ministry for Tourism and Culture 7 October 2007.

The loan of the Caravaggio masterpiece was made possible thanks to the collaboration of the Minister for Tourism and Culture Dr Francis Zammit Dimech, Italian Ambassador Paolo Andrea Trabalza and the combined effort of scholarship and management of the University of Malta and the Malta Council for Culture and the Arts.

The painting “Portrait of a Knight” will be the main feature among other works of art by great artist called ‘Caravaggio and Paintings of Realism in Malta’ at St John’s Co-Cathedral. The exhibition will be co-curated by St. John’s Co-Cathedral’s curator, Ms Cynthia De Giorgio and Dr Keith Sciberras.

The event is part of Caravaggio400 celebration to mark Caravaggio’s presence in Malta. Dr Keith Sciberras has given a defined description of the Caravaggio painting: “The identity of the knight has been the subject of controversy. Recent scholarship has suggested the identity of Grand Cross Fra Antonio Martelli, Prior of Messina, who was one of the elders of the Italian langue. In this picture, Caravaggio brilliantly captured the essence of knighthood. Set against a dark void and turning to the right in order to avoid eye contact with the spectators, the knight holds a rosary in his right hand and holds the hilt of his sword with his left. Sword and rosary beads symbolically refer to the dual role of the Sacra Religione that of professed Catholic brothers who were also warriors.”

“The “Portrait of a Knight” has the character of a private painting and is thus intimate and fluid. Austere and certainly without much physical adulation, this picture is the result of Caravaggio’s frank and direct naturalism. Typical of Caravaggio’s late period, the portrait is painted fluidly and rapidly, leaving an impression of the unfinished in certain areas,” added Dr Sciberras.

The painting has been brought to Malta courtesy of the Ministry for Tourism and Culture, 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, Airmalta, Carmelo Caruana Co. Ltd, Joinwell Co.Ltd. and the Valletta Local Council.

Further information about the Caravaggio400 programme of events can be found on: www.caravaggio400.com

Based on a Press Release from the Ministry for Tourism and Culture in Malta.

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