Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/1432934
maltatoday | SUNDAY • 28 NOVEMBER 2021 4 ART Giuseppe Calì's artistic evolution explored in Heritage Malta masterclass A masterclass discussing the evolution of Giuseppe Calì's art will be delivered by Dr Mark Sa- gona on the 1st of December at MUŻA. The masterclass is be- ing organised by Heritage Malta in collaboration with the Uni- versity of Malta's Department of Art and Art History. Entitled 'Art Up Close: Gi- useppe Calì (1846-1930): Ro- manticism between verismo and the eclectic', the master- class will focus on the charac- ter and context of Calì's works as they moved from Neapolitan verismo, to glimpses of the his- tory paintings of Paul Delaro- che (1787-1856), opening up to the sweetness of the works of Pietro Gagliardi (1809-1890) in Malta, morphing concurrent- ly towards a Baroque Revival ethos. Born in Malta to Italian par- ents fleeing from Bourbon Na- ples, Giuseppe Calì came to dominate Maltese Art between 1880 and 1920. A virtuoso by birth, he was hugely gifted with a talent for inventiveness, expressiveness and narrative, and, above all, speed of execution. He unsurpris- ingly broke with Maltese tradition to study in Na- ples, where members of his family had enjoyed remarkable fame. Giuseppe Calì was tru- ly a product of his own Romantic, eclectic times. Naples was an extraor- dinary influence on the young artist: he was gripped by the works of Giuseppe Mancinelli (1813- 75), Filippo Palizzi (1818-99) but most especially by those of the great Domenico Morelli (1823-1901). This was the eclectic recipe which he introduced on his return to Malta, transforming forcefully the local artistic cli- mate. Following the presentation by Dr Sagona, attendees will also be treated to an exclusive tour to see MUŻA's Calì pieces and discuss them in their historical and artistic context as well as their narrative within the dis- plays at MUŻA. The one-hour masterclass will start at 18.30. Admission is free of charge, but reservation is re- quired at any Heritage Malta museum or site, or by sending an email on info@heritagemal- ta.org. All attendees must wear a face mask and respect social distancing measures. Giuseppe Calì