DEPARTMENT OF HISTORY OF ART FACULTY OF ARTS REPORT ON THE WORKING OF THE DEPARTMENT ACADEMIC YEAR 2010-2011 0. STAFF 0.1 Professor Mario Buhagiar B.A. Hons (Lond.), M.Phil. (Lond.), Ph.D. (Lond.), F.S.A. (Lond.) Head of Department Dr Keith Sciberras B.Ed (Hons), M.A., Ph.D. Senior Lecturer Dr Conrad Thake B.E.&A (Hons), M.A., Ph.D. (Berkeley), A.&C.E. Senior Lecturer Dr Giuseppe Schembri Bonaci LL.M., L.L.D., Ph.D. Lecturer Ms Charlene Vella B.A.(Hons), M.A., Ph.D. candidate (University of Warwick) Assistant Lecturer Rev. Gino Gauci Lic Acc. B.A. (Mil.), Dip. Eccles. Arch. (Mil.) TR5 Assistant Lecturer 0.2 Visiting Staff Mr Mark Sagona B.A. (Hons), M.A. TR3 Mr Lino Borg B.A. (Hons), M.A. TR1 0.3 Project and Research Assistant: Ms Charlene Vella B.A. (Hons), M.A. (Resigned on her appointment as resident full-time Assistant Lecturer on 12 th September 2011.) 0.4 Secretary Ms Isabelle Abela B.A. (Hons) 1. STUDENTS 1.1 B.A./B.A.(Hons): Year 1: Nineteen (19) students Year 2: Twelve (12): 9 B.A. (Hons) and 3 B.A. students Year 3: Nine (9): B.A. (Hons) students 1.2 Ph.D. candidates Three (3) candidates in different stages of their research. Mr Christian Attard The Visual Culture of Death in Malta Supervisor: Dr Keith Sciberras Ms Irene Biolchini Miquel Barcelo and the Eternal Return Primitive Culture in 20 th Century European Art Supervisor: Dr Giuseppe Schembri-Bonaci Mr Mark Sagona The Ecclesiastical Decorative Arts in the Maltese Islands 1850-1950 - Supervisor: Prof. Mario Buhagiar. 1.3 M.A. candidates Nine (9) candidates in different stages of their research: Lisa Attard Casa Rocca Piccola and the concept of the Historic House Museum in Malta Supervisor: Prof. Mario Buhagiar Janica Buhagiar The 19 th Century Cemetery: Funerary Monuments and Symbolism in British Malta Supervisor: Dr Conrad Thake
Paul Cassar Oratories of the Onorati and of the Immaculate Conception at the Jesuit Church, Valletta Supervisor: Dr Conrad Thake Marilyn Debono Allegory and Symbolism in Sculpture commissioned by the Knights of the order of St John Supervisor: Dr Keith Sciberras Krytle Farrugia Art Criticism and Art History in Malta in the Late 18 th and early 19 th Century with special reference to Count Saverio Marchese (1757-1833) Supervisor: Prof. Mario Buhagiar Lawrence Pavia British Artists in Malta in the 1960s & 1970s Supervisor: Dr Conrad Thake Mariestelle Spiteri The Confraternities attached to the Collegiate Parish Church of St Paul s Shipwreck in Valletta: An Art-Historical Approach Supervisor: Dr Keith Sciberras Lisa Xuereb Picture Frame Typologies in Malta between 1600-1850 Supervisor: Dr Keith Sciberras Kristina Zammit Endrich The Pre-Raphaelite Brotherhood and the Arts and Crafts Movement and their influence on Maltese Art and Architecture: 1850-1900 Supervisor: Prof. Mario Buhagiar 1.4 Three M.A. candidates (Ms Davida Flores, Mr Franco Navarro, and Ms Priscilla Ainhoa Griscti) have successfully defended their thesis in a viva voce examination. 1.5 Five M.A. candidates (Ms Victoria Agius, Ms Ann Dingli, Ms Michelle Galea, Ms Elizabeth Borg and Mr Robert Galea) have submitted or are in the process of submitting their thesis for examination. 2. Visiting Academics 2.1 Professor Alison Yarrington, Dean, Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences, University of Hull, was Visiting External Examiner for the June session final examinations and undergraduate dissertation Vivas 2.2. Non-Visiting External Examiners Dr Charles Knevitt (Royal Institution of British Architects, U.K.) Dr Jenny Powell (Tate Gallery, Britain) Dr Donald La Rocca (Metropolitan Museum, New York) Dr Marjorie Trusted (Victoria and Albert Museum, London) 2.3 Visiting Lecturers Dr Helen Langdon, leading academic on Caravaggio and Salvador Rosa was Visiting Lecturer to the Department between the 11 th and 14 th April. Dr Langdon during the course of her visit had meetings with the students and gave a public lecture on Free, Fiery, Painter Corrector: the Art of Salvatore Rosa. Dr Donal Cooper, Director of Undergraduate Studies in the Department of History of Art, University of Warwick was Visiting Lecturer to the Department between the 21 st and 23 rd of March. Dr Cooper met History of Art students and gave a public lecture on Franciscan and Dominican Art and Architecture in a Mediterranean Context 3. Servicing other Departments, Faculties and Institutes In addition to their academic commitments to the Department (research, teaching, tutoring, thesis supervision) the academic staff members also serviced: 3.1 The Institute of Baroque Studies 3.2 Department of History (M.A. in Hospitaller Studies) 3.3 Department of Classics and Archaeology as members of Boards of Examiners 3.4 University of Third Age
4. Research Intitiatives 4.1 The Department runs: a) A centre for Caravaggio Studies. Director: Dr Keith Sciberras. b) A study of Late Medieval and Early Modern Art and Architecture in their Mediterranean Context. Directors: Prof. Mario Buhagiar and Ms Charlene Vella. c) A study programme for modern and contemporary art in Malta. Director: Dr Giuseppe Schembri-Bonaci. d) A study of Nineteenth and Twentieth century Architecture. Director: Dr Conrad Thake. 4.2 The Research Programme for the Study of Late Medieval and Early Modern Art and Architecture in their Mediterranean Context, with the financial support of BANIF Bank plc and a research grant from the University has undertaken the scientific restoration (still under progress) of a panel painting of the Virgin and Child Enthroned by Antonio de Saliba nephew and one of the most important disciples of Antonello da Messina, one of the most significant painters of the Italian Early Renaissance. The restoration is being carried out by the Re-Coop Restoration Labs at Mriehel, Malta. 4.3 Members of the Department have participated in international art fora and in research activity in major European Museums and collections. Worthy of note are: a) Several initiatives undertaken by Dr Giuseppe Schembri Bonaci in modern and contemporary art in the U.K. b) Academic activity on Caravaggio and the Roman Baroque undertaken in Rome by Dr Keith Sciberras c) Studies on Sicily and South Italian late Medieval and Early Modern Art and Architecture undertaken by Prof. Mario Buhagiar and Ms Charlene Vella d) Studies in Venice on paintings by Antonio and Pietro (de Saliba brothers) and on the school of Antonello undertaken by Ms Charlene Vella in connection with her Ph.D. research 5. New member of the Department On 12 th September 2011 Ms Charlene Vella was officially appointed full-time residential academic in the Department of History of Art. Her areas of specification are late Medieval and early modern Art and Architecture. Ms Vella had earlier been selected for the post contested by other applicants. In the interim period between her selection for, and formal appointment to the post she was entrusted with teaching activities in study units related to late medieval and early modern art and architecture. 6. Academic staff members 6.1 Prof. Mario Buhagiar a) Prof. Mario Buhagiar intensified his association with the London Society of Antiquities to which he was elected fellow in November 2009. b) His major publication was a study on the Jewish Catacombs of Roman Melite published in the 2011 issue of the Antiquaries Journal, and one of the most prestigious journals for art and architecture. c) He is in the final stages of preparation for a book of collected essays on art and architecture due for publication in 2012 d) Prof. Buhagiar is vice-president of the Malta Historical Society e) He is academic advisor on art-related matters to: i) Ecclesiastical and government authorities ii) Fondazzjoni Patrimonju Malti iii) Din l-art Helwa
f) In October 2011 he participated in a Seminar on the restoration of the Victory Church, Valletta and its restoration organised by Din l-art Helwa and the Cortauld Institute, University of London. He participated in a Seminar with a paper on Baroque ceiling paintings in Malta g) He has written the Introduction to a number of academic publications in art and architecture in Malta. 7. Dr Keith Sciberras 7.1 Dr K. Sciberras has consolidated his academic reputation as a leading Caravaggio scholar and a foremost authority on Baroque Art and Architecture. 7.2 Publications: The Brush for the Cross, The Cross for the Brush: Mattia Preti, Knight of Malta in Stefania Macioce Ed., I Cavalieri di Malta, Caravaggio, e l Arte nel cammino dei Secoli, Universita La Sapienza, Rome, 2010 Roma Fuori Roma, Roman Baroque Sculpture for the Knights of Malta, in Stafania Macioce Ed.., I Cavalieri di Malta, Caravaggio, e l Arte nel cammino dei Secoli, Universita La Sapienza, Rome, 2010 Francesco Zahra 1710-1773, Midsea Books Ltd, 2010 7.3 Public Lectures: Mattia Preti ripete se stesso, Pedara (CT) Italy, October 2010 Caravaggio in Sicilia, Pedara (CT) Italy, October 2010 Caravaggio Obbediente, Palazzo dei Normanni, Palermo, October 2010 Caravaggio s Knighthood of Obedience, Oratory of S. Giovanni Decollato, Valletta, December 2010 Francesco Zahra 1710-1773, His life and Art in mid-18 th century Malta, Auberge de Castille, Valletta, April 2011 7.4 Exhibition Curator: Francesco Zahra 1710-1773, An Intimate look at his small works, Carmelite Priory Museum, Mdina, November-December 2010 7.5 Conference/Colloquium: I Cavalieri di Malta, Caravaggio, e l Arte nel cammino dei Secoli, Roma, November 2010 El Giovan Ribera, Museo Nacional del Prado, Madrid, May 2011 8. Dr Giuseppe Schembri Bonaci 8.1 Dr Giuseppe Schembri Bonaci has given seminally important contribution to modern and contemporary art in Malta 8.2 a) Art Exhibition of History Students at the Wignacourt Museum (Feb.2011) b)publication of 'Two Artists: Velazquez-Picasso. Las Meninas' (November 2010) c)exhibition of art works 'HOME' with German artist Michael van Cube at the National Musuem of Fine Arts (March, 2011) d) Public Talk. 'Art and Politics': MAX event (May 2011) e)participation at the Cervantes Institute London (Spanish Art launch) f) Book Launch of 'Two Artists: Velazquez-Picasso. Las Meninas' at University, March 2011. g) Established various new relations linked with further projects: :Sarah Moulden from the Dulwich Gallery :finalised 'Antonio Sciortino: The British Academy of Arts in Rome' in printing proof stage; :with Rozamund Bartlett (visiting Prof to King's College) co-operating with her 'Malevich and Victory Over the Sun';
:Gerald Laing, British Contemporary Sculpture; :Dr Jennifer Powell (Tate Britain); :Dr Jo Wood from the Henry Moore Institute, Mr Michael Slade Sculptor, and others. :attended the Saatchi Gallery opening, the Tracey Emin at the Hayward Museum, The Vorticists at the Tate Britain, The Eastlake exhibition (linked to my Sciortino research) at the National Gallery; :The Twombly-Poussin exhibition opening at the Dulwich Gallery; :TheToulouse-Lautrec at the Courthauld, and others. All these activities are directly linked with all my research and lectures. i) several meetings at St Martin's School of Art, at the College of Arts and at the City and Guilds London. These meeetings were linked with the Fine Arts development within the Department. j)forthcoming publication ' Anton Agius: Gothic Socialist Realism' is in print and should be launched in coming weeks. 'Antonio Sciortino and the British Academy of Arts in Rome' is also ready and in printing stage. I have finished another work, 'Shostakovich, Britten, Stravinsky and the Painters in Between: 1936'. Contribution in Dr Raphael Vella's publication 'Modern Visions' k) Regularly doing research at the Warburg where he met and discussed various questions with the new director, Prof P. Mack. Invited and was present at his Inaugural Lecture. Dr Schembri Bonaci also contributed regularly in Sunday papers. My articles have generated much discussion and debate on Maltese Art and on Contemporary Art.Various contributors reacted to my articles. 9. Dr Conrad Thake 9.1 Dr C. Thake is solidly consolidating his repute as a leading authority on the architecture of British and Modern and Contemporary Malta. He is in addition a leading authority on Baroque Architecture. 9.2 Books William Scamp A British Admiralty Architect in Malta, 1841-1845 (currently at the printers due in October 2011) 9.3 Publications in Academic Journals Valletta A case-study in Renaissance city planning in From the Great Siege to the Battle of Lepanto, 1565-1571, George Cassar (ed.), Sacra Militia Foundation, 2011, IV, 77-88. Ta Braxia Cemetery An architectural appraisal, in Treasures of Malta, (Summer 2011), vol. XVII, no. 3, 10-17. 9.4 Publication in Exhibition Catalogue Composing images through the camera lens, in exhibition catalogue, T.Gambin (ed), Between Shadow and Stone, a visual exploration of Richard England s architecture, MidSea Books, 2011, 13-15. * Shortlised by CICA for the Julius Posener Exhibition Catalogue Award 2011 9.5 Conference Paper entitled Un progetto per una Casa del Fascio a Malta, in Conference Grand Tour del Terzo Millenio Ricerche di Storia dell Architettura dei Borsisti e Artisti Stranieri, Facoltà di Ingegneria dell Università degli Studi di Roma, Tor Vergata, Rome. (April 2011) 9.6 Public Lecture Lecture at the premises of the Italian Cultural Institute, Valletta and organized by the Malta Historical Society, A Project for a Centro d Italianita and Casa del Fascio in Malta. (19 April 2011)
9.7 Travels Abroad Rome London - Focus on Renaissance and Baroque architecture - Visits to R.I.B.A, Victoria & Albert Museum, Sir John Soane Museum, Tate Modern 10. Ms Charlene Vella 10.1 Ms Vella is the recipient of a full tuition and maintenance bursary at the University of Warwick. She is actively enganged in her Ph.D Research both in Warwick and in the base that the University of Warwick has in Venice. 10.2 She is resident art critic with the Sunday Times of Malta. 10.3 She is PRO of the Malta Historical Society. 10.4 Publications 10.5 Lectures 11. Fr Gino Gauci 11.1 Fr Gino Gauci is a leading authority on Christian iconography and iconology. 11.2 He is advisor to the ecclesiastical authorities on art and related matters. 11.3 In the year under discussion he supervised the restoration of the church of Santa Caterina d Italia, Valletta. Professor Mario Buhagiar Ph.D. (Lond.), FSA (Lond.) Head, Department of History of Art 9 December 2011