To celebrate the 400th anniversary of the birth of Mattia Preti, Din l-Art Helwa is organising a lecture at Sarria Church, Floriana, on Tuesday, the 6th of March at 6 pm.

The talk will be conducted in Italian by Dott. Giuseppe Mantella, who has worked to save many works of art in Malta.

Mattia Preti, the Calabrian born artist who was commissioned by the Order of St John to paint the barrel vault at St John’s Cathedral, also designed the building of Sarria Church, at the request of Grand Master Nicolas Cottoner in 1676 after an episode of the plague had ravaged the Maltese islands.

Dedicated to the Blessed Virgin, Sarria Church hosts no less than seven paintings by Mattia Preti, making it another important monument to his artistic genius.

Admission is free of charge. However, a donation to Din l-Art Helwa would be appreciated.

Photos – Top, Saint Sebastian and below, Madonna.

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