PRESIDENT PROPOSES THE SETTING UP OF A NATIONAL PORTRAIT GALLERY

PRESIDENT PROPOSES THE SETTING UP OF A NATIONAL PORTRAIT GALLERY

H.E. Prof. Guido de Marco, President of Malta, yesterday evening urged the Museum authorities to look into the possibility of setting up a National Portrait Gallery.

Prof. de Marco was speaking during the official commemoration marking the completion of restoration works on Antonio Sciortino's "Christ the King" monument at Floriana, sponsored by Bank of Valletta p.l.c.

Prof. de Marco said a National Portrait Gallery would give prominence to Malta's foremost artists, historians, scholars, statesmen and personalities, and all those who gave a significant and memorable contribution to Malta through the ages.

"A National Portrait Gallery would honour those who have honoured Malta and who dedicated their work and life to Malta. I urge the Museum of Fine Arts to look carefully and seriously into this proposal. A National Portrait Gallery, well researched and maintained, would make of history an art and an art out of history," the President said.

Prof de Marco said Antonio Sciortino was perhaps Malta's best sculptor since Melchiore Gafa`: "Sciortino's works are to be found in world capitals. His 'Cristo Re' has inspired one of Dun Karm's better known poem Il-Monument. Antonio Sciortino is a relevant part of Malta's artistic heritage, a national icon."

The President praised the work carried out by restoration director Dott. Santo Guido and his team, noting that a new trend is emerging in the field of restoration where the highly specialised technique of restoration is affirming itself as a veritable art form in its own right.