Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/1505128
maltatoday | SUNDAY • 6 AUGUST 2023 5 ART Malta Society of Arts launches publication to celebrate centenary milestone The publication, titled Palazzo De La Salle, Genesis and Evolution, features a collection of essays detailing aspects of the Palazzo and the Malta Society of Arts THE Malta Society of Arts (MSA) has just published a sig- nificant publication titled Pala- zzo De La Salle: Genesis and Evolution to coincide with the celebrations of the Society's 100 years at the Palazzo. The pub- lication is a lavishly illustrated hardback volume containing 240 pages that bring together a collection of new essays penned by local academics and well- known personalities. These essays offer new per- spectives on the history of the Palazzo and shine a spotlight on some of the illustrious names who have either lived, worked, exhibited or performed there in its 400-year history. The book is a tribute to an architectural gem in our nation's capital and to the Malta Society of Arts' continued commitment to promote art, music and culture on the Island. MSA President Arch. Adrian Mamo remarks that the publica- tion of Palazzo de La Salle: Gen- esis and Evolution commemo- rates the 100 years that the MSA has been the custodian of Pala- zzo de La Salle, one of Valletta's architectural gems. "The publi- cation of this hardback volume is part of a series of year-long events that we have organised during 2023, destined to mark our prestigious Society," says Mamo. "The publication will be on view, and available for sale, during all forthcoming events organised on the premises." Edited by Caroline Miggiani and Gabriel Zammit, the book contains 14 essays penned by well-known local scholars as well as personalities, most of whom were approached due to their past or present connection with the building or with the Malta Society of Arts. The sub- jects of the essays are varied, but they all offer well-researched facts, while also offering new perspectives on some of the sub- jects tackled. Four photographic essays by Alex Attard are al- so included in the publication: three in colour and a fourth one in black and white. Academic Mevrick Spiteri writes about the genesis of Pala- zzo de La Salle, tracing its histo- ry from the laying of its founda- tion stones to its development into a palatial building from two separately owned late sixteenth century houses. Joan Abela fo- cuses on the ownership of the building and writes about many of its more colourful and distin- guished occupants, which in- cluded Grand Master Perellos y Rocafull and its eponymous res- idents, Fra Guglielmo and Fra Enrico de La Salle. Keith Sci- berras provides the reader with a stylistic and detailed analysis of the architecture of the Pal- ace and discusses the building's unusual articulation dictated by the natural downward slope of the terrain. The Department of Conser- vation and Built Heritage at the University of Malta's essay pro- vides details on how it conduct- ed the conservation of the Pala- zzo's private chapel and its two painted decorative schemes. Chris Grech focuses on Sir Wil- liam Reid, Governor of Malta who was also the Malta Socie- ty of Arts' first President. Karl Fiorini writes about his recent research into the numerous mu- sical scores, technical textbooks and handwritten string ensem- ble arrangements held at the MSA Musical Archives. Mariella Pisani Bencini gives an insider's view into winning the prestigious Gold Medal in 2021 – a prize awarded on a yearly basis to a personality in the field of culture, music or art in Malta; while Marika Az- zopardi focuses on the Society's 100-year association with the historic building starting from 1923. Co-editor Caroline Mig- giani also authored one of the essays, and in it she illustrates the Society's turbulent life dur- ing the Second World War. The raison d'être of the So- ciety has always been the en- couragement of art and artists. Authors Joseph Paul Cassar, Nikki Petroni and Roderick Camilleri discuss issues relat- ing to secular and Sacred Art, and to the Modern aesthetic in Malta. They write about mat- ters faced by local artists from the 1940s onwards, including indirect censorship of some of their works. Toni Sant gives a personal interpretation of the recently restored Sala Dei Cav- alieri, which he calls a unique 'performance space' in which one can still experience 'an en- during spectacle.' Palazzo de La Salle: Genesis and Evolution is more than a marker for an important mile- stone. Both the Palazzo and the publication are storehouses of memory: they preserve traces of Malta's political, historical and cultural changes within their 'walls'. The official launch of Palazzo de La Salle: Genesis and Evolu- tion will take place on Thursday 17 August at 7pm at the Palazzo itself, in a joint launch of both the publication and the MSA's Members Exhibition titled The Archive, which also forms part of the MSA's 100 years at Palaz- zo de La Salle celebrations. Palazzo de La Salle: Genesis and Evolution is a publication by the Malta Society of Arts and is published by Midsea Books. The book is on sale at the Malta Society of Arts and in selected branches of Agenda Bookshops for the price of €70. For more info, call the Malta Society of Arts on 21244400. The MSA thanks the President and Committee of the MSA, pho- tographers Alex Attard, Manuel Ciantar and Mark Scicluna, Manager of the MSA Joe Scerri, The National Archives of Malta, Muża, Joseph Mizzi of Midsea Books, all the contributing au- thors, as well as past Honorary Presidents of the MSA.