Bookbindings Exhibition invited to Brussels

Bookbindings Exhibition invited to Brussels

The fine bookbindings from the National Library of Malta and the Magistral Palace Library and Archives, Rome, which were on display at Fort St. Angelo, Birgu, between 6^th November and 6^thDecember 1999, will be travelling to Brussels at the invitation of Michel Wittock. Monsieur Wittock is a Belgian bibliophile and president of the Bibliotheca Wittockiana, one of the most prestigious private libraries in the world, dedicated exclusively to the art of fine bookbinding. The exhibition, which will be inaugurated on Friday, 4^th February 2000, will be mounted at the Wittockiana and will be open to the public for six weeks, from the beginning of February to mid-March.

The invitation arrived at an opportune moment, as Malta has just been accepted to start negotiations with a view to becoming a full member of the European Union. The co-ordinators of the exhibition, on the Malta side, feel honoured by the Brussels initiative, which they regard as an unique opportunity to launch the image of Malta as a promoter of highly refined culture.

Monsieur Wittock, who is based in Rome, where he runs a very specialised book business together with his Italian wife Fiammetta Soave, had been requested by the co-authors of the exhibition's catalogue to write the introduction. The Wittocks then came to Malta for the inauguration of the exhibition and were impressed not only by the amount of work put into the preparation, but also by the high standard of professionalism of the finished product.

Back in Rome, Monsieur Wittock approached the Grandmaster of the Sovereign Military Order of Malta, H.M.E.H. Fra' Andrew Bertie, inviting the Order to send over books to Brussels for temporary display at the Wittockiana. The same invitation was extended to the Government of Malta. Both enthusiastically accepted.

The exhibition features five hundred years of the art of bookbinding both in Europe and elsewhere. Different styles and techniques on leather, parchment or paper characterise the different periods and provenances. The Brussels version of the exhibition will be on a smaller scale than the one held in Malta and will include only those books featured in the catalogue (now on sale at Malta's leading bookshops).

Nevertheless, the selection still provides a breathtaking cross-section of this marvellous art, which has so far only been appreciated by a few, although interest in this art is mounting. The books will be artistically displayed in special showcases set up in the halls of the Wittockiana.

One of the main attractions for foreign bibliophiles and book collectors will undoubtedly be one of the books from the National Library of Malta, bound in dentelle style by the widow of a member of the renowned 19^th century family of Parisian binders, the Padeloups. According to Michel Wittock, the considerable binding skills of la veuve Padeloup were hitherto absolutely unknown in international circles and have come to light only now, through the Malta exhibition.