Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/741600
JURGEN BALZAN HERITAGE Malta has published the evidence which backs its deci- sion to purchase a fragment of a Mattia Preti painting, which some critics – notably Italian polemicist and art critic Vittorio Sgarbi – de- scribed as a "replica". In an informal press briefing, Heritage Malta officials said they are 100% sure the painting is origi- nal and that they stand by their decision to purchase the fragment of a painting by the 17th century master for €75,000. Principal conservationist Tony Spagnol said that research and the conservation report confirm that it is an autograph original. "The manufacturing technique shows that the fragment match- es the other fragment owned by Palazzo Chigi in Ariccia, Rome which is displayed as a Preti piece," he said. The purchase of the painting is at the centre of an academic contro- versy after the eccentric Italian tel- evision personality Vittorio Sgarbi claimed that the painting is a rep- lica made by Preti's workshop. However, Spagnol explained that studies carried out on the fragment bought by Heritage Malta confirm that earlier research and the mate- rials used, the paintbrush strokes, the manufacturing technique and preparations all point towards a Preti autograph original. Spagnol, who has previously worked on other Preti paintings, explained that the canvas depicting Apelles, the renowned early Hel- lenistic Greek painter, was painted on a large canvas stretching some three metres and over a metre in height. The canvas, he said, is made out of two pieces sown together and the seam on the fragment bought by Heritage Malta is a perfect match to the seam of one of the other two fragments. The other two fragments – one at Ariccia in Italy and the other in an unknown private collection – are both considered as Preti originals and the fragment depicting Cam- paspe, Alexander the Great's lover, is currently exhibited in Germany as a Preti. The fragment is of great value because it is the first non-religious painting by the painter, to be held by Maltese authorities. Preti spent some 40 years in Malta, where many paintings by him are held in parish churches and in private col- lections. The fragment purchased is also a self-portrait, given that Apelles has Preti's facial features. This detail was noted by Preti's bi- ographer, Bernardo de Dominici, who makes direct reference to the painting by the artist. Professional art dealer Charlotte Agius told MaltaToday that such controversies are common and "Art History is a developing field and opinions change over time." However, she said it is sad that Sgarbi is being used to politicise the issue. "Everything needs to take a po- litical spin in Malta and this is sad. I have done my homework and checked about the piece and the catalogue, indeed Artcurial does not quote it as an attribu- tion, but as a piece by Mattia Preti himself. Indeed it is not the museum which is amateur but rather the political system and the people who should be happy that efforts are being made to enrich the collection at the public's disposition." The curator of the Malta Museum of Fine Arts, San- dro Debono, ex- plained that different versions of the painting exist and the majority of art critics and Preti experts agree that the painting bought by Herit- age Malta – a one-third fragment of a large painting – is a Preti origi- nal and not a fake or a replica. "The painting was auctioned as a Preti original and not as the work of his workshop," he said, adding that the majority of experts, including John Spike, agree that the other two fragments are Preti originals. Sgarbi himself, in a book he edited and published in 2013 says that the Ariccia fragment – known as the Campaspe – is a Preti original and the inter- vention of his workshop is "plausible". While recognis- ing that other versions of the painting ex- ist – including a smaller and more elaborate version in a pri- vate collection in Madrid, Spain – Debono said that the painting is guaranteed for two years, saying that the auction house – Artcurial – would never risk putting its repu- tation in the balance. Artcurial, one of the world's lead- ing auction houses, sold the frag- ment as a Preti original, and Her- itage Malta CEO Kenneth Gambin said that if the painting is proved to be otherwise the auction house would suffer severe repercussions. Gambin and other Heritage Mal- ta officials refused to be drawn into the Sgarbi controversy, saying that the Italian had every right to change his opinion and questions on his motives should be directed to him. In the past, Sgarbi criticised a Heritage Malta exhibition that pur- ported to show a collection of au- thentic works by Caravaggio. The 2007 exhibition had been aggres- sively marketed as "an exhibition of original masterpieces", when the exhibition's website and catalogue listed Caravaggio masterpieces that were never on display. maltatoday, SUNDAY, 23 OCTOBER 2016 News Heritage Malta insisted that the fragment of a painting they had purchased for €75,000 (centre) is a Mattia Preti original Mattia Preti Heritage Malta '100% certain' €75,000 painting is original the catalogue, indeed Artcurial does not quote it as an attribu- tion, but as a piece by Mattia Preti himself. Indeed it is not the museum which is amateur but rather the political system and the people who should be happy that efforts are being made to enrich the collection at the public's The curator of the Malta Museum of Fine Arts, San- dro Debono, ex- two fragments are Preti originals. Sgarbi himself, in a book he edited and published in 2013 says that the Ariccia fragment – known as the Campaspe – is a Preti original and the inter- vention of his workshop is "plausible". While recognis- ing that other versions of the painting ex- ist – including a smaller and Vittorio Sgarbi: polemic comes easy