MUŻA ĦDEJK
GIUSEPPE CALÌ
Mejju-Ġunju / May - June 2025
Il-Bażilika ta’ Sidtna Marija ta’ Porto Salvo u ta’ San Duminku, il-Belt Valletta
Il-Bażilika Arċipretali ta’ Santa Marija, il-Mosta
Settembru-Ottubru / September - October 2025
Il-Knisja Parrokkjali ta’ Kristu Salvatur, Ħal Lija
Il-Knisja Parrokkjali tal-Madonna tas-Sacro Cuor, Tas-Sliema
MUŻA ĦDEJK: NIĊĊELEBRAW LIL...
Your MUŻA: Celebrating...
Il-qofol ta’ MUŻA huma n-nies. Ismu miegħu: Mużew Nazzjonali tal-Arti għall-Komunità. MUŻA tgħaqqad l-arti man-nies għax in-nies jitkellmu aħjar bl-arti. U għax MUŻA hija għall-komunità, għandha tkun qrib in-nies. Għalhekk, l-għan ewlieni ta’ dil-wirja, u l-oħrajn li ġejjin warajha, hu biex MUŻA tressaq l-arti tal-kollezzjoni nazzjonali u xogħlijiet oħra eqreb lejn il-komunità – preċiżament sa ħdejha – sabiex ngħarfu iktar min aħna bħala poplu.
MUŻA’s core is the public. Its official name after all reflects this: the National Community Art Museum. MUŻA brings art to the public as the public can better express itself through art. And because MUŻA is for the community, it should therefore be close to it. This is why the main aim of this exhibition, and the others to follow, is for MUŻA to bring its art in the national collection, as well as other works, closer to the community – or more precisely, right by its side. This should also help us to understand who we are as a people.
1. Il-MUŻA ĦDEJK: Niċċelebraw lil Francesco Zahra YOUR MUŻA: Celebrating Francesco Zahra L-Oratorju tas-Santissimu Kurċifiss, l-Isla The Oratory of the Holy Crucifix, Senglea 3 - 22 ta’ Mejju 2023 / 3 – 22 May 2023
2. Il-MUŻA ĦDEJK: Niċċelebraw lil Giuseppe Calì YOUR MUŻA: Celebrating Giuseppe Calì
IL-WIRJA / EXHIBITION
Kurazija / Curatorship: Mario Cutajar
Disinn tal-wirja / Exhibition Design: Dipartiment tal-Wirjiet Għajnuna Teknika u Loġistika / Technical and Logistical Support: it-Tim Kuratorjali ta’ MUŻA, it-Taqsima tal-Konservazzjoni, u d-Dipartimenti tal-Komunikazzjoni, tal-Marketing u tal-Wirjiet fi ħdan Heritage Malta, Daniela Attard Bezzina, Jimmy Camenzuli, Mario Camilleri, Mario Coleiro, Franceen Galea, Russell Muscat, Fiona Vella, Ryan Vella, Stefania Zuccarello
Self ta’ Artifatti / Loan of Artefacts: Il-Parlament ta’ Malta, Il-Bażilika ta’ Sidtna Marija ta’ Porto Salvo u ta’ San Duminku
Postijiet / Venues:
Il-Bażilika ta’ Sidtna Marija ta’ Porto Salvo u ta’ San Duminku, il-Belt Valletta
Il-Bażilika Arċipretali ta’ Santa Marija, il-Mosta Il-Knisja Parrokkjali ta’ Kristu Salvatur, Ħal Lija Il-Knisja Parrokkjali tal-Madonna tas-Sacro Cuor, Tas-Sliema
IL-KTEJJEB / BOOKLET
Riċerka u Kitba / Research and Authorship: Mario Cutajar
Editjar / Editing: Maria Muscat, Godwin Vella Fotografija / Photography: Pierre Balzia, Steve Psaila
Disinn / Design: Pierre Balzia
Għajnuna Teknika / Technical Support: it-Tim Kuratorjali ta’ MUŻA, it-Taqsima tal-Konservazzjoni fi ħdan Heritage Malta, George Agius, Franceen Galea, Fiona Vella Stampar / Printing: Poultons Ltd.
ISBN: 978-9918-627-26-4
Produzzjoni / Production: Heritage Malta Publishing © 2025 Kull dritt huwa riservat f’kull pajjiż.
GIUSEPPE CALÌ MUŻA ĦDEJK
Bil-kollaborazzjoni ta’ / With the collaboration of
M
UŻA, il-mużew nazzjonali tal-arti fil-komunità, qiegħed dejjem aktar joqrob lejn il-milja tad-demokratizzazzjoni. Il-qofol ta’ din il-metamorfosi hija l-aċċessibilità, sewwasew it-tiswir ta’ djalogu ċar u dirett bejn ix-xogħlijiet ta’ natura artistika u kull udjenza immaġinabbli, irrispettivament mill-ġeneru, il-fehma, il-klassi soċjali jew in-nazzjonalità.
Minbarra l-aġġornament tan-narrattiva tal-wirja permanenti fis-swali tal-Berġa tal-Italja fil-Belt Valletta, it-tim maniġerjali u kuratorjali ta’ MUŻA imbarka fuq programm ambizzjuż ta’ inizjattivi sabiex jagħmel l-arti aktar rilevanti għall-poplu ta’ dawn il-gżejjer, il-barranin li jgħixu magħna, kif ukoll l-għadd dejjem jiżdied ta’ turisti li jogħġobhom iqattgħu l-btajjel tagħhom fostna.
F’dan is-sens, matul l-2024 ġiet imnedija l-ewwel edizzjoni tal-maltabiennale.art – festa mill-aqwa ta’ espressjonijiet kreattivi li għandhom l-għan ewlieni li jinterrogaw in-normi antikwati u l-laxkezza ċivika u morali tas-soċjetà preżenti. Din kienet suċċess mingħajr preċedent filwaqt li mistennija jintlaħqu orizzonti ġodda fl-edizzjoni li jmiss, fejn l-udjenza ser tkun qed tiġi mistiedna sabiex tnaddaf, tgħarraf u tferraq
Fl-istess waqt, fl-2023 ġiet varata wkoll sensiela ta’ wirjiet temporanji dwar artisti Maltin. Dawn qed jinżammu fil-qalba tal-komunitajiet, ’il bogħod mill-ħitan ta’ MUŻA. Issa, din is-sensiela ta’ wirjiet ħadet żvolta oħra għaliex kull edizzjoni qed tolqot firxa ta’ komunitajiet differenti. Fil-fatt, il-wirja ‘Niċċelebraw lil Giuseppe Calì’ ser tkun qed tinżamm f’erba’ knejjes ewlenin, sewwasew il-Bażilika ta’ Sidtna Marija ta’ Porto Salvo u ta’ San Duminku fil-Belt Valletta, il-Bażilika Arċipretali ta’ Santa Marija fil-Mosta, il-Knisja Parrokkjali ta’ Kristu Salvatur f’Ħal Lija u l-Knisja Parrokkjali tal-Madonna tas-Sacro Cuor f’Tas-Sliema.
Din is-sensiela ta’ wirjiet mistennija tqanqal interess fil-patrimonju artistiku li jinsab tegħfa ta’ ġebla ’l bogħod minn fejn ngħixu, u għaldaqstant għandha sservi ta’ xprun għat-tkattir tal-għarfien u l-għożża tar-riżorsi kulturali li writna mingħand dawk li ġew qabilna u tal-identità nazzjonali.
Mario Cutajar Chairman Heritage Malta
THE DEMOCRATISATION OF ART
MUŻA, the national community art museum, is increasingly approaching a state of full democratization. At the core of this metamorphosis is accessibility, namely the creation of a clear and direct dialogue between the art works and every imaginable audience, regardless of gender, opinion, social class or nationality.
In addition to updating the narrative of the permanent exhibition in the halls of the Auberge d’Italie in Valletta, the management and curatorial team of MUŻA has embarked on an ambitious programme of initiatives to make art more relevant to the people of these islands, the foreigners who live amongst us and the ever-increasing number of tourists who like to spend their holidays here.
In this spirit, the first edition of maltabiennale.art was launched in 2024 – a magnificent feast of creative expression with the aim of questioning the outdated norms and the civic and moral laxity of today’s society. This was an unprecedented success, while new trajectories are expected to be reached in the next edition, where the audience will be invited to clean, clear and cut.
At the same time, a series of temporary exhibitions on Maltese artists was also launched in 2023. These are being held in the heart of communities, away from MUŻA’s walls. Now, this series of exhibitions has taken another turn, with each edition reaching a range of different communities. In fact, the exhibition ‘Celebrating Giuseppe Calì’ will be held in four major churches, namely the Basilica of Our Lady of Porto Salvo and St Dominic in Valletta, the Basilica of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary into Heaven in Mosta, the Parish Church of Christ the Saviour in Lija and the Parish Church of Our Lady of the Sacred Heart in Sliema.
This series of exhibitions is expected to spark interest in the artistic heritage that lies just a stone’s throw away from where we live, and should therefore serve as a catalyst for increasing awareness and appreciation of the cultural resources we have inherited from our ancestors and of our national identity.
Mario Cutajar Chairman Heritage Malta
TFULIJA
Giuseppe Calì huwa wieħed mill-aqwa artisti ta’ pajjiżna ta’ kull żmien. Twieled fl-14 ta’ Awwissu 1846, it-tmien wild ta’ Raffaele u Giovanna, xebba Padiglione. Raffaele u Giovanna kienu Naplitani u ġew Malta fl-1840 biex jevitaw l-inkwiet u t-taqlib politiku li minn Sqallija kien wasal ukoll f’Napli.
Giuseppe Calì twieled fid-dar tal-ġenituri tiegħu fil-Belt
Valletta f’dik li llum hija Pjazza Indipendenza, dak iż-żmien Pjazza Ċelsi, u ġie mgħammed fil-parroċċa tal-Madonna ta’ Porto Salvo u San Duminku.
Giuseppe beda jattendi l-Iskola Elementari tal-Gvern fil-Belt imma wera minn kmieni li ma kellux xi ġibda partikolari lejn suggetti akkademiċi.
Fuq: Ir-reġistru tal-Parroċċa ta’ Sidtna Marija ta’ Porto Salvo u San Duminku li turi t-twelid ta’ Giuseppe Calì fl-1846. (Vol.1845-1851 f.132)
Above: The register of the Parish of Our Lady of Porto Salvo and St Dominic showing the birth of Giuseppe Calì in 1846.
CHILDHOOD
Giuseppe Calì is considered to be one of the finest artists in our nation’s history. He was born on 14 August 1846, the eighth child of Raffaele and Giovanna, née Padiglione. Raffaele and Giovanna were Neapolitans who came to Malta in 1840 to avoid the trouble and political upheaval that had made it to Naples from Sicily.
Giuseppe Calì was born in his parents’ house in Valletta in what is known today as Independence Square, at the time Ċelsi Square, and was baptized in the Parish of Our Lady of Porto Salvo and St Dominic.
Giuseppe started attending the Government Elementary School in Valletta, but it was clear from early on that he was not particularly drawn to academic subjects.
Isfel: Giuseppe Calì għex sakemm kellu 84 sena. Ir-reġistru tal-Parroċċa Dumnikana tal-Belt Valletta mis-snin 1927-30 jagħti d-data tal-mewt bħala t-2 ta’ Marzu 1930 imma hu magħruf li fil-fatt Calì miet fl-1 mhux fit-2 ta’ Marzu. (Vol.1927-1936 f.187)
Below: Giuseppe Calì lived until he was 84 years old. The register of the Dominican Parish of Valletta from the years 1927-30 gives the date of his death as 2 March 1930, however, it is known that in fact Calì died on the 1st and not the 2nd of March.
BEJN MUŻIKA U PITTURA
Il-ġenituri bdew iressqu lil Giuseppe lejn il-mużika minn ċkunitu. Kemm missieru Raffaele u kemm ommu Giovanna kienu midħla sew tal-mużika. Raffaele kien Maestro di Cappella tal-familja Rjali ta’ Napli, filwaqt li Giovanna kienet mezzo sopran. Giuseppe tgħallem il-mużika imma mhux li jagħmel karriera minnha. Swietu biżżejjed biex iktar tard fis-snin seta’ jkun membru attiv ta’ La Nazionale Vincitrice, illum il-Filarmonika Ċittadina King’s Own.
Giuseppe kien iktar miġbud lejn ix-xogħol l-ieħor ta’ missieru - dak ta’ xenografu tat-teatru - u taż-żewġ ħutu ikbar minnu Federico u Lorenzo, pittur u induratur tal-istatwi tal-ġibs rispettivament. Maż-żmien, Giuseppe beda jinġibed dejjem aktar lejn it-tpinġija.
Guglielmo Eynaud għaraf il-ħiliet ta’ Giuseppe Calì u kkonvinċa lill-ġenituri tiegħu biex jibagħtuh jistudja barra l-pajjiż. Infatti fl-1865, Giuseppe mar jistudja l-arti fl-Accademia di Belle Arti f’Napli, fejn dam sentejn.
BETWEEN MUSIC AND PAINTING
Giuseppe’s parents introduced him to music from an early age. Both his father Raffaele and his mother Giovanna were well acquainted with music. Raffaele was Maestro di Cappella of the Royal family of Naples, while Giovanna was a mezzo soprano. Giuseppe goes on to learn music but does not make a career out of it. Later on in life, this musical training meant he could become an active member of La Nazionale Vincitrice, today the King’s Own Philharmonic Society.
However, Giuseppe was more drawn to his father’s other work - that of a theater scenographer - and the work of his two older brothers, Federico and Lorenzo, a painter and a gilder of plaster statues respectively. Eventually, Giuseppe became increasingly interested in painting.
Guglielmo Eynaud recognized Giuseppe Calì’s talent and convinced his parents to send him to study abroad. In 1865, Giuseppe went to study art for two years at the Accademia di Belle Arti in Naples.
Mudell Maskili żejt fuq it-tila
Huwa maħsub li Calì ġab dax-xogħol tiegħu miegħu minn Napli fejn mar jistudja (Ħajr lill-iSpeaker tal-Kamra tar-Rappreżentanti)
Male Model oil on canvas
It is believed that Calì brought this work with him from Naples where he went to study (Thanks to the Speaker of the House of Representatives)
Il-Mewt ta’ Dragut / Death of Dragut
Giuseppe Calì 1867
Żejt fuq tila / Oil on canvas
Heritage Malta, MUŻA
JIKSEB
KMIENI
Lura Malta, Giuseppe Calì sar magħruf tista’ tgħid mal-ewwel.
Calì kompla fuq il-passi ta’ missieru Raffaele u beda jagħmel ix-xeni għat-teatru. Ismu sar sinonimu ma’ dak tat-Teatru Rjal fil-Belt Valletta, u x-xeni tiegħu kienu jiġbdu l-ammirazzjoni ta’ bosta. Jingħad li Calì waqaf ipitter ix-xeni għat-teatru meta xena tiegħu mpittra fuq il-karta ħadet in-nar li nxtered mat-Teatru Rjal. Kien il-25 ta’ Mejju 1873 waqt l-aħħar prova għall-opra La Vergine del Castello ta’ Giuseppe Privitera minn Sirakuża.
Madankollu kien f’dal-perjodu ta’ ħajtu wkoll li Giuseppe Calì pitter il-kapolavur tiegħu Il-Mewt ta’ Dragut. Dan ix-xogħol żejt fuq it-tila, tpitter minn Calì fl-1867 u nxtara mal-ewwel mill-gvern ta’ dak iż-żmien biex jitqiegħed fl-Armerija tal-Palazz tal-Gran Mastru. Illum dal-kapolavur jinsab fil-MUŻA.
ACHIEVES EARLY SUCCESS
On his return to Malta, Giuseppe Calì rose to fame almost immediately.
Calì followed in his father Raffaele’s footsteps and started painting scenograpies for the theatre. His name became synonymous with that of the Royal Opera House in Valletta and his scenograpies attracted the admiration of many. It is said that Calì stopped painting for the theatre when a scene of his, which he had painted on paper, caught fire that spread throughout the Royal Opera House. The incident unfolded on the 25 May 1873 during the last rehearsal for the opera La Vergine del Castello by Giuseppe Privitera from Siracusa.
However, it was also in this period that Giuseppe Calì painted his masterpiece Death of Dragut. This oil on canvas work was painted by Calì in 1867 and was immediately purchased by the government of the time to be placed in the Armoury of the Grand Master’s Palace. Today this masterpiece is at MUŻA.
L-INFLUWENZA TA’ CALÌ FL-ARTI MALTIJA
Bl-isem li ħa Calì ma ġibidx lejh biss kummissjonijiet. Giuseppe Calì kien jgħallem ukoll l-arti u diversi kienu dawk li direttament jew indirettament ħarġu minn taħt idejh. Fost dawn, insibu lil Edward Caruana Dingli li kien influwenzat ħafna minn Calì u anke għamel isem għalih innifsu. Bħal Calì, huwa kien magħruf ukoll għall-pittura ta’ persunaġġi. Fost il-pitturi ta’ persunaġġi ta’ Caruana Dingli nsibu dak ta’ Giuseppe Calì nnifsu.
Caruana Dingli kien ukoll jgħallem l-arti. Għalhekk nistgħu ngħidu li l-influwenza ta’ Calì mxiet ukoll għand Willie Apap, Emvin Cremona, Anton Inglott u Esprit Barthet, li kollha ħarġu minn taħt idejn Edward Caruana Dingli.
L-akbar kollezzjoni ta’ pitturi ta’ persunaġġi minn idejn Calì tinsab fil-Kamra tal-Kummerċ, fil-bini magħruf bħala La Borsa, fi Triq ir-Repubblika, l-Belt Valletta.
Giuseppe Calì
Edward Caruana Dingli 1918
Żejt fuq tila / Oil on canvas Heritage Malta, MUŻA
CALÌ’S INFLUENCE ON MALTESE ART
The reputation garnered by Calì attracted more than just commissions. Giuseppe Calì also taught art and thus, several artists were directly or indirectly shaped by him. Among them was Edward Caruana Dingli, who was particularly influenced by Calì and later became well known in his own right. Like Calì, Caruana Dingli gained renown for his portrait paintings - one of which depicts Giuseppe Calì himself.
Caruana Dingli also taught art, and through him, Calì’s influence extended to artists such as Willie Apap, Emvin Cremona, Anton Inglott, and Esprit Barthet - all of whom were his students.
The largest collection of character paintings by Calì can be found in the Chamber of Commerce, in the building known as La Borsa, located in Republic Street, Valletta.
Awtoritratt. Giuseppe Calì meta kien adolexxenti Self-portrait. Giuseppe Calì in his adolescent years Heritage Malta, MUŻA
KNEJJES, IMMA MHUX BISS
Giuseppe Calì huwa magħruf bħala l-pittur tal-knejjes. Ix-xogħlijiet tiegħu wieħed jista’ jsibhom f’diversi knejjes imxerrda ma’ Malta u Għawdex.
Għalkemm dawn huma x-xogħlijiet l-iktar aċċessibbli tiegħu, il-mijiet ta’ xogħlijiet li ħallielna ma jmissux biss suġġetti reliġjużi u mhux qegħdin fi knejjes biss. Wieħed isib dekorazzjonijiet fi djar privati u pitturi ta’ diversi suġġetti u ta’ persunaġġi, bosta minnhom f’kollezzjonijiet privati. Saħansitra fl-1869 għamel karikaturi politici għall-ġurnal satiriku Don Basilio taħt il-firem ‘Fumo’, ‘Vampa’ u ‘Scintilla’.
Calì kien magħruf li jgħaġġel fix-xogħol tiegħu. Artist kontemporanju ta’ żmienu, Ignazio Saverio Cortis, kien jirreferi għalih bħala x-“xitan tal-pinzell”. Jingħad li fl-1885, It-Tlugħ fis-Sema ta’ Marija għall-Knisja tal-Lunzjata fil-Birgu kien lestiha f’24 siegħa. Dik ta’ Santa Ċeċilja fl-1909 għall-istess knisja, għamilha fi tliet sigħat. Iż-żewġ xogħlijiet intilfu fit-Tieni Gwerra Dinjija.
Abbozz għall-kapolavur ta’ Calì għall-altar ta’ San Duminku fil-Bażilka ta’ Sidtna Marija ta’ Porto Salvo u San Duminku fil-Belt Valletta. Dax-xogħol tant irnexxa li Calì ntalab jagħmel kopja tiegħu għall-Knisja Dumnikana ta’ Prato del Castello ħdejn Ruma.
Bozzetto of Calì’s masterpiece for the altar of St Dominic in the Basilica of Our Lady of Porto Salvo and St Dominic inValletta.This work was so successful that Calì was asked to make a copy of it for the Dominican Church of Prato del Castello near Rome. Heritage Malta, MUŻA
NOT JUST CHURCHES
Giuseppe Calì is known as the painter of churches. One can find his works in various churches scattered around Malta and Gozo.
Although these are his most accessible works, the hundreds of works left to us by Calì, do not only revolve around religious subjects and are not only found in churches. One finds decorations in private homes and paintings of various subjects and portraits, many of them in private collections. In 1869 he even created political cartoons for the satirical newspaper Don Basilio under the noms de plume ‘Fumo’, ‘Vampa’ and ‘Scintilla’.
Calì was known to work fast. A contemporary artist of his, Ignazio Saverio Cortis, referred to him as the ‘devil with the brush’. It is said that in 1885, he completed The Ascension of Our Lady for the Church of the Annunciation in Birgu in just 24 hours. He finished the painting of St Cecilia for the same church in 1909, in just three hours. Both works were lost in the Second World War.
Fuq: Abbozz għal San Tumas t’Akwinu għall-Bażilika ta’ Sidtna Marija ta’ Porto Salvo u San Duminku fil-Belt Valletta.
Above: Bozzetto for StThomas Aquinas for the Basilica of Our Lady of Porto Salvo and St Dominic in Valletta.
Heritage Malta, MUŻA
Giuseppe Calì, akwarell, mill-ktieb ta’ Dr A. A. Caruana, Ancient Pottery from the Ancient Pagan Tombs and Christian Cemetries in the Islands of Malta. Giuseppe Calì, watercolour, from the book by Dr A. A. Caruana, Ancient Pottery from the Ancient PaganTombs and Christian Cemetries in the Islands of Malta.
Heritage Malta, Mużew Nazzjonali tal-Arkeoloġija National Museum of Archaeology
BEJN TALJANI U MALTIN
Calì kien jgħaddi messaġġi bl-arti tiegħu. Fil-Knisja Parrokkjali ta’ Ħal Lija nsibu eżempji tipiċi. Lill-profeta Ġona, Calì jpittru b’idejh mgħollija maħsud iħares lejn xogħol ta’ Cortis fl-istess knisja li skont Calì, l-irjus tal-persunaġġi fih mhumiex fi proporzjon tajjeb. Lill-profeta Mikea, li hu awtoritratt ta’ Calì stess, fuq sidru kitiblu ‘Fame Pereo’ (qed immut bil-ġuħ). Il-messaġġ ittieħed u Calì ġie mħallas iżjed milli miftiehem.
Isem Monsinjur Paolo Pullicino, Calì refgħu għal fuq denb is-serp ta’ taħt San Mikiel fil-Knisja Parrokkjali ta’ Ħal Luqa. Fil-Knisja Parrokkjali ta’ Ħal Lija nstabet ukoll poeżija ta’ Calì miktuba fuq it-tilar tal-pittura tal-Kruċifissjoni (1891) li fiha jipponta subgħu lejn Pullicino għall-isfortuni li kellu u għat-telfien finanzjarju li sofra.
Monsinjur Pullicino kien jappoġġja ħafna xogħol ta’ artisti Taljani f’Malta. Kien iż-żmien li xi drabi artist Taljan kien jiġi ppreferut minn artist Malti. Fl-istess żmien li kien attiv Calì, insibu xogħlijiet f’pajjiżna ta’ Virgilio Monti, Pietro Gagliardi u Attilio Palombi. Kien hemm drabi fejn xogħol ta’ Calì nqered biex minfloku sar xogħol ta’ artist Taljan.
Calì jibqa’ meqjus bħala wieħed mill-ġganti artistiċi Maltin ta’ kull żmien li ħalla influwenza fuq l-arti Maltija li għadha tinħass.
BETWEEN ITALIANS AND MALTESE
Calì used to convey messages through his art. In the Parish Church of Lija, we find typical examples. Calì paints the prophet Jonah with his hands raised in shock, looking toward a work by Cortis in the same church, in which, according to Calì, the heads of the figures are not proportionally depicted. The prophet Micheas is portrayed by Calì as a self-portrait, with the words ‘Fame Pereo’ (I am dying of hunger) written on his chest. The message was not lost and Calì was paid more than the agreed sum for the work.
In the Parish Church of Luqa, Calì places Monsignor Paolo Pullicino’s name on the tail of the snake under St Michael. Whereas, in the Parish Church of Lija, a poem by Calì was also found written on the backing panel of the painting of the Crucifixion (1891), in which he points his finger at Pullicino for the misfortunes he was experiencing and for the financial losses suffered.
Monsignor Pullicino was a great supporter of works by Italian artists in Malta at a time when Italian artists were often given preference over Maltese ones. In the years in which Calì was active, locally we find works being commissioned to Virgilio Monti, Pietro Gagliardi and Attilio Palombi. To add insult to injury, there were instances where works by Calì were even destroyed to be replaced by works of Italian artists.
Calì is regarded as one of Malta’s artistic giants, having left an indelible mark on Maltese art which is still felt to this very day.
Attilio Palombi, buzzetti bi tħejjija għall-pitturi fil-Knisja Kolleġġjata ta’ San Pawl Nawfragu tal-Belt Valletta (MUŻA). Palombi ġie kkummissjonat ipitter is-saqaf ta’ dil-knisja u fl-1907 ħassar xogħol ta’ Calì f’din listess knisja biex ikun jista’ jesegwixxi l-kummissjoni li ngħata. Palombi u Calì baqgħu rivali kbar.
BozzettosbyAttilioPalombiinpreparationforthepaintingsintheCollegiateChurchof StPaul’sShipwreckinValletta(MUŻA).Palombiwascommissionedtopainttheceiling of this church, and in 1907, he destroyed Calì’s work there to make way for his own. Palombi andCalì remained longstanding rivals.
1846
1867
1878
GIUSEPPE CALÌ - IL-PITTUR TAL-KNEJJES Ix-xogħlijiet prinċipali
GIUSEPPE CALÌ – THE PAINTER OF CHURCHES
The most important works
Jitwieled il-Belt Valletta f’dik li llum hija Pjazza Indipendenza, dak iż-żmien Pjazza Ċelsi.
He was born in Valletta in what is now Independence Square, then Ċelsi Square.
Imur jistudja Napli fl-Accademia di Belle Arti. Hemm idum sentejn.
He goes to study at the Accademia di Belle Arti in Naples where he spends two years.
Ipitter Il-Mewt ta’ Dragut li tinxtara mill-gvern u titqiegħed fl-Armerija tal-Palazz fil-Belt Valletta.
He paints Death of Dragut which is purchased by the government and placed in the Palace Armoury inValletta.
Calì jpitter il-Madonna tar-Rużarju għall-Bażilika ta’ Santa Marija fil-Mosta u sentejn wara fl-istess Bażilika, it-Trinità Qaddisa, il-profeti u l-anġli.
Calì paints the Madonna of the Rosary for the Basilica of St Mary in Mosta and two years later in the same Basilica, he paints the Holy Trinity, the prophets and the angels.
Jibda l-ewwel minn tliet arzelli għall-Bażilika ta’
Sidtna Marija ta’ Porto Salvo u San Duminku fil-Belt Valletta. L-ewwel waħda tkun l-Inkurunazzjoni tal-Madonna, għaxar snin wara San Duminku fil-Glorja, u fl-aħħar nett, David u Santa Ċeċilja fl-1900.
He starts work on three scallops for the Basilica of Our Lady of Porto Salvo and St Dominic in Valletta. The first one depicting the Coronation of Our Lady, followed by St Dominic in Glory 10 years later, and finally, David and St Cecilia in 1900.
1865
1870
1883
Għall-Knisja Parrokkjali tas-Sacro Cuor f’Tas-Sliema ipitter lil San Ġilormu, San Pietru u San Pawl, San Lawrenz, San Ġużepp (inqered), il-Madonna tal-Karmnu, il-Madonna ta’ Pompei u San Vincenz Ferrer. Fl-istess sena, għall-Parroċċa ta’ San Bartilmew fil-Għargħur, Calì pitter is-Sagra Familja, lil San Bartilmew, u lill-Madonna tal-Karmnu. Pitter ukoll lill-Madonna tad-Duttrina fl-Oratorju tal-Knisja Parrokkjali taż-Żurrieq.
For the Parish Church of the Sacro Cuor in Sliema, he paints St Jerome, St Peter and St Paul, St Lawrence, St Joseph (now destroyed), Our Lady of Mount Carmel, Our Lady of Pompeii and StVincent Ferrer. In the same year, for the Parish of St Bartholomew in Għargħur, Calì paints the Holy Family, St Bartholomew, and Our Lady of Mount Carmel. He also paints Our Lady of Christian Doctrine in the Oratory of the Parish Church of Żurrieq.
Ipitter Ir-Rebħa tas-Salib għall-Bażilika ta’ Sant’Elena f’Birkirkara.
He paints theVictory of the Cross for the Basilica of St Helen in Birkirkara.
Calì jpitter il-koppla tal-Knisja Parrokkjali tal-Kunċizzjoni f’Bormla (inqerdet) u s-saqaf tal-istess knisja.
Calì paints the dome of the Parish Church of the Immaculate Conception in Bormla (now destroyed) and the roof of the same church.
1885
Calì kien magħruf għall-ħeffa tiegħu biex ipitter. It-Tlugħ fis-Sema ta’ Marija fil-Knisja Dumnikana tal-Lunzjata fil-Birgu lestiha f’24 siegħa. Dik ta’ Santa Ċeċilja fl-1909 għall-istess knisja, għamilha fi tliet sigħat.
F’din is-sena wkoll pitter is-Sagra Familja għall-knisja ta’ Sant’Ursula fil-Belt Valletta, San Dimitri għall-Bażilika ta’ Marija Bambina fl-Isla, San Ġuzepp, il-Madonna tad-Duttrina u l-Madonna tal-Karmnu għall-Parroċċa ta’ San Gejtanu fil-Ħamrun, San Ġużepp għall-Knisja Parrokkjali ta’ San Ġorġ u l-Madonna tal-Vittorja għall-knisja bl-istess isem, it-tnejn f’Ħal Qormi u l-Madonna
tal-Karmnu għall-Parroċċa ta’ San Ġużepp fl-Imsida. Pitter ukoll lil San Lawrenz għall-Parroċċa ta’ San Publju fil-Furjana. Għal din il-knisja wkoll pitter il-Kruċifissjoni fl-1912 li iżda nqerdet.
Ipitter il-koppla tal-Bażilika ta’ San Pawl fir-Rabat u jibda x-xogħol fil-Parroċċa tal-Madonna ta’ Luretu f’Għajnsielem. Hemmhekk pitter lil Sant’Antnin ta’ Padova, Sant’Andrija, San Pawl, il-Lunzjata, il-Kunċizzjoni, it-Tlugħ ta’ Marija fis-Sema u l-Madonna fit-Tempju.
Calì was known for the remarkable speed of his painting. In this year, he completed The Ascension of Mary in the Dominican Church of the Annunciation in Birgu within 24 hours. In 1909, he painted St Cecilia for the same church in just three hours.
In this year, he also paints the Holy Family for the Church of St Ursula in Valletta, St Dimitri for the Basilica of theVirgin Mary in Isla, St Joseph, Our Lady of Christian Doctrine and the Our Lady of Mount Carmel for the Parish of St Cajetan in Ħamrun, St Joseph for the Parish Church of St George and Our Lady ofVictory for the church with the same name, both in Qormi and Our Lady of Mount Carmel for the Parish of St Joseph in Msida. He also paints St Lawrence for the Parish of St Publius in Floriana. In 1912, he also paints the Crucifixion for this same church, which was later destroyed.
He also paints the dome of the Basilica of St Paul in Rabat and starts work in the Parish of Our Lady of Loreto in Għajnsielem. There he paints St Anthony of Padua, St Andrew, St Paul, the Annunciation, the Immaculate Conception, the Ascension of Mary into Heaven and the Madonna in the Temple.
Ipitter il-Kruċifissjoni għall-Parroċċa ta’ Stella Maris f’Tas-Sliema li iżda nqerdet.
He paints the Crucifixion for the parish of Stella Maris in Sliema, which was later destroyed.
Calì jpitter il-Madonna tar-Rużarju għall-Parroċċa ta’ San Ġuzepp fl-Imsida.
Calì paints the Madonna of the Rosary for the Parish of St Joseph in Msida. 1888
1890
Ipitter il-Madonna tad-Duttrina għall-Knisja ta’ Santa Barbara fil-Belt Valletta u l-Madonna magħrufa bħala Stella Maris għall-parroċċa bl-istess dedika f’Tas-Sliema.
He paints Our Lady of Christian Doctrine for the Church of St Barbara in Valletta and the Stella Maris for the Parish with the same name in Sliema.
Ipitter id-Duluri u lil San Ġużepp għall-Knisja tal-Karmnu fl-Imdina, lil San Gejtanu għall-Parroċċa ta’ Marija Bambina fil-Mellieħa u l-Kruċifissjoni għall-Parroċċa ta’ Santa Marija fiż-Żebbuġ, Għawdex.
He paints Our Lady of Sorrows and St Joseph for the Church of Our Lady of Mount Carmel in Mdina, St Cajetan for the Parish of the Nativity of theVirgin Mary in Mellieħa and the Crucifixion for the Parish of St Mary in Żebbuġ, Gozo.
Calì jpitter l-Immakulata Kunċizzjoni u l-Kruċifissjoni għall-Knisja Parrokkjali ta’
Ħal Lija u l-Madonna tal-Vitorja għall-Knisja Parrokkjali ta’ Marija Bambina fil-Mellieħa.
Calì paints the Immaculate Conception and the Crucifixion for the Parish Church of Lija and Our Lady ofVictory for the Parish Church of the Nativity of theVirgin Mary in Mellieħa
1892
Ipitter il-Kunċizzjoni għall-Parroċċa tas-Sacro Cuor f’Tas-Sliema. Fix-Xagħra, Calì jibda jpitter diversi xogħlijiet: il-Kunċizzjoni, Marija fit-Tempju u l-Glorja tat-Twelid ta’ Marija. Temm dax-xogħol fl-1918.
He paints the Immaculate Conception for the Sacro Cuor Parish in Sliema. In Xagħra, Calì begins to paint several works: the Immaculate Conception, Mary in the Temple and the Glory of Mary’s Birth. He completed this work in 1918.
Ipitter il-koppla tal-Parroċċa tas-Salvatur f’Ħal Lija.
He paints the dome of the Parish of Our Saviour in Lija.
1891 1893
Calì jpitter Il-Wegħda tal-Messija għall-Parroċċa tal-Lunzjata f’Ħal Tarxien u lil San Lawrenz, għall-Knisja Parrokkjali msemmija għalih fir-raħal ta’ San Lawrenz u wara għall-istess knisja pitter ukoll lil San Mikiel, il-Madonna tar-Rużarju, il-Kruċifissjoni u lil San Ġużepp.
Calì paints the Promise of the Messiah for the Parish Church of the Annunciation in Tarxien and St Lawrence for the Parish Church named after him in the village of San Lawrenz. Later, for the same church, he also paints St Michael, Our Lady of the Rosary, the Crucifixion and St Joseph.
Calì jpitter il-Madonna tar-Rużarju, il-Madonna tal-Karmnu u San Ġwakkin għall-parroċċa ta’ Ħal Balzan.
Calì paints Our Lady of the Rosary, Our Lady of Mount Carmel and St Joachim for the Parish of Balzan.
Ipitter lil Ġesu mat-tfal fil-Knisja Parrokkjali ddedikata lis-Salvatur f’Ħal Lija u s-saqaf tal-istess knisja.
He paints Jesus with the children in the Parish Church dedicated to Our Savior in Lija and the roof of the same church.
Ipitter il-kwadru ta’ San Duminku għall-Bażilika ta’ Sidtna Marija ta’ Porto Salvo u San Duminku fil-Belt Valletta u għall-Knisja Parrokkjali ta’ Marija Bambina fil-Mellieħa pitter in-Nawfraġju ta’ San Pawl, Sant’Elena u l-Madonna tar-Rużarju. Il-Madonna tar-Rużarju tpittret ukoll għall-Knisja Parrokkjali ta’ Santa Marija fl-Imqabba u għall-Parroċċa ta’ Sant’Andrija f’Ħal Luqa. Għall-Knisja Parrokkjali ta’ San Nikola fis-Siġġiewi, Calì pitter lill-Madonna tal-Karmnu u lill-Madonna ta’ Pompej u lil San Ġużepp għall-Knisja Parrokkjali dedikata lill-istess qaddis fil-Kalkara.
Calì jpitter il-koppla tal-Bażilika ta’ Sidtna Marija ta’ Porto Salvo u San Duminku fil-Belt Valletta, kif ukoll is-saqaf tal-korsija tal-istess Bażilika.
He completes the painting of St Dominic for the Basilica of Our Lady of Porto Salvo and St Dominic in Valletta and for the Parish Church of the Nativity of theVirgin Mary in 1896 1898
Mellieħa he paints the Shipwreck of St Paul, St Helen and Our Lady of the Rosary. He also paints Our Lady of the Rosary for the Parish Church of St Mary in Mqabba and for the parish of St Andrew in Luqa. For the Parish Church of St Nicholas in Siġġiewi, Calì paints Our Lady of Mount Carmel and the Madonna of Pompeii and St Joseph for the Parish Church dedicated to the same saint in Kalkara.
Ipitter il-koppla tal-Parroċċa tal-Lunzjata f’Ħal Balzan u s-Sagra Familja għall-Bażilika ta’ San Ġorġ fir-Rabat, Għawdex u għall-Parroċċa ta’ San Ġużepp fil-Qala jpitter lil San Ġużepp, lil San Ġwakkin u lil Sant’Anna.
He paints the dome of the Parish of the Annunciation in Balzan and the Holy Family for the Basilica of St George inVictoria, Gozo, and for the Parish of St Joseph in Qala he paints St Joseph, St Joachim and St Anne.
Għall-Knisja Parrokkjali tal-Lunzjata f’Ħal Tarxien ipitter lill-Madonna tad-Duluri u lil San Vinċenz de Paule. Id-Duluri tpittret ukoll għall-Knisja Parrokkjali ta’ Marija Bambina fin-Naxxar. Għall-Knisja Parrokkjali tal-Fontana, Calì jpitter il-Qalb ta’ Ġesu u sentejn wara lil San Mikiel.
For the Parish Church of the Annunciation in Tarxien, he paints Our Lady of Sorrows and StVincent de Paule. He also paints Our Lady of Sorrows for the Parish Church of the Nativity of Our Lady in Naxxar. For the Parish Church of Fontana, Calì paints the Sacred Heart of Jesus and two years later he paints St Michael.
Ipitter lil Sant’Antnin ta’ Padova għall-Knisja Parrokkjali ta’ San Nikola fis-Siġġiewi.
Calì jpitter il-Ħajja ta’ Ġesu Kristu f’koppletta fil-Parroċċa tal-Kunċizzjoni f’Bormla u t-Tmien Stadji tal-Ħajja ta’ Ġesu Kristu, kif ukoll numru ta’ profeti għall-Bażilika ta’ Santa Marija mtella’ s-sema fil-Mosta.
He paints St Anthony of Padua for the Parish Church of St Nicholas in Siġġiewi.
Calì paints the Life of Jesus Christ in a small dome in the Parish of the Immaculate Conception in Bormla and the Eight Stages of Jesus Christ’s life, as well as a number of prophets for the Basilica of the Annunciation in Mosta.
Fil-Knisja Parrokkjali ddedikata għal Marija Addolorata f’San Pawl il-Baħar, Calì pitter id-Duluri, il-Kunċizzjoni, San Franġisk t’Assisi, in-Nawfraġju ta’ San Pawl u lil Sant’Antnin ta’ Padova.
Calì jpitter ukoll is-saqaf tal-Knisja Parrokkjali ta’ San Lawrenz fil-Birgu.
In the Parish Church dedicated to Our Lady of Sorrows in St Paul’s Bay, Calì paints Our Lady of Sorrows, the Immaculate Conception, St Francis of Assisi, the Shipwreck of St Paul and St Anthony of Padua.
Calì also paints the ceiling of the Parish Church of St Lawrence in Birgu.
Għall-Knisja Parrokkjali ta’ San Ġorġ f’Ħal Qormi Calì jpitter lil San Ġorġ fil-Glorja.
For the Parish Church of St George in Qormi, Calì paints St George in Glory.
Calì jpitter lil San Mikiel, il-Qalb Imqaddsa ta’ Ġesu, it-Twelid ta’ Sidna Ġesu Kristu, San Duminku ta’ Guzman u San Vincenz Ferrer għall-Knisja Parrokkjali ta’ Sant’Andrija f’Ħal Luqa.
Calì paints St Michael, the Sacred Heart of Jesus, the Nativity of Our Lord Jesus Christ, St Dominic of Guzman and St Vincent Ferrer for the Parish Church of St Andrew in Luqa.
Ipitter il-koppletti tal-Kappelli tas-Sagrament, ta’ San Piju V, ta’ Santa Rosa u ta’ Santa Katarina ta’ Siena fil-Bażilika ta’ Sidtna Marija ta’ Porto Salvo u San Duminku tal-Belt Valletta. Ix-xogħol hawnhekk daħal ukoll fis-sena ta’ wara.
Ipitter is-saqaf tal-Knisja tal-Franġiskani ‘Ta’ Putirjal’ fil-Belt Valletta.
1907
He paints the small domes of the Chapels of the Sacrament, of St Pius V, of St Rosa and of St Catherine of Siena in the Basilica of Our Lady of Porto Salvo and St Dominic in Valletta. The work here continued in the following year.
He paints the ceiling of the Franciscan Church ‘Ta’ Putirjal’ inValletta.
Għall-Bażilika ta’ Sant’Elena f’Birkirkara Calì pitter lil San Ġużepp u għall-knisja ta’ San Pawl fl-istess raħal pitter grupp ta’ qaddisin. Lil San Ġużepp pittru wkoll għall-Parroċċa ta’ Santa Marija f’Ħad-Dingli.
For the Basilica of St Helen in Birkirkara, Calì paints St Joseph and for the church of St Paul in the same village, he paints a group of saints. He also paints St Joseph for the Parish of St Mary in Dingli.
1912
Ipitter lil San Ludoviku għall-knisja tal-Kapuċċini fil-Kalkara.
He paints St Ludovico for the Capuchin Church in Kalkara.
Għall-Knisja Parrokkjali dedikata lill-Madonna ta’ Pompej f’Marsaxlokk, Calì pitter lil San Ġużepp, il-Madonna tal-Karmnu u San Vinċenz Ferrer.
For the Parish Church dedicated to Our Lady of Pompeii in Marsaxlokk, Calì paints St Joseph, Our Lady of Mount Carmel and St Vincent Ferrer.
Giuseppe Calì jmut fl-età ta’ 84 sena fl-1 ta’ Marzu ta’ dis-sena.
Giuseppe Calì dies at the age of 84 on March 1st of this year.
Permezz tal-kollezzjoni varjata tiegħu, MUŻA huwa manifestazzjoni tal-iżvilupp artistiku f’Malta mill-preistorja sal-kontemporanju, b’enfasi fuq l-impatt li ħalla l-kuntest Mediterranju u kif ukoll l-influwenzi kulturali li rriżultaw mill-ħakmiet barranin. L-arti hija lingwa b’saħħitha, u permezz ta’ dan il-mużew, nistgħu nagħtuha aktar spazju sabiex issemma’ leħinha.
Through its varied collection, MUŻA is a manifestation of the artistic developments in Malta from prehistory to the contemporary, impacted by its Mediterranean context as well as the cultural influences resulting from the respective foreign domains. Art is a powerful language, and through this museum we can communicate it more effectively.
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