Din l-Art Helwa is pleased to announce its next monthly talk is to be ‘Relics and reliquaries in the Diocese of Malta during the Baroque period,’ delivered by Rev Dr Edgar Vella SThB. SThL., PhD.

Fr Vella, who has a passion for antiques and the visual arts, will share with the audience his vast knowledge of the typology of reliquaries extant in Malta during the 17th and 18th centuries. He will expand on the evolution of the cult of historical, liturgical and devotional relics and deal with the anthropological aspect of relics, their acquisition and provenance in baroque Malta.

Solemn translations of Holy relics in the Diocese of Malta as well as commissions and manufacture of reliquaries will be explained with the use of images which will help the audience appreciate these objects that have both a spiritual as well as an artistic value.

Edgar Vella was born in Mgarr Malta in 1961. He followed art lessons at the Polytechnic between 1978-80. Between 1985-88, he followed a Licenciate course in Theology and was ordained priest in 1988. He Graduated Ph.D. in 2012 at the Faculty of Theology at the University of Malta.

Appointed assistant curator in the Cathedral Museum in 1993, he organised a number of thematic exhibitions namely: ‘The Crucifix, Public cult and Private devotion in Malta’ in 1994; ‘Antique Artistic Cribs and other works of Art on the Nativity Theme’ in 1994, ‘Artistic Representations of the Passion Theme’; Relics and Reliquaries in Malta’ in 1996, ‘Panel Paintings on the Passion Theme in 1997; ‘Decorative Art related to Confraternities in Malta’ in 1998; and ‘Works of art on the Marian theme’ in 1999. Between 2004 and 2013 he organised the now expected 18th century Neapolitan crib in various localities for the Christmas season.

In 2001 he was appointed Diocesan Inventorist, and Curator of the Cathedral Museum in 2008. Fr Vella is the Secretary of the Commission for the Cultural Catholic Heritage and Chairman of the Exhibition Board of Palazzo De Piro Mdina and member in the board of directors of the said Palazzo.

The talk will be delivered in English and is free of charge. However, Din l-Art Helwa appreciates donations towards its funds for the restoration and maintenance of some of Malta’s most prominent historical sites.

It will be held at Din l-Art Helwa premises 133, Melita Street, Valletta, on the on 13th February, starting at 6.30 pm.

For more information, please phone: 21225952, www.dinlarthelwa.org.

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