Throughout the month of July, the exhibition ‘Through the Eyes of a Collector’ at Palm Court Lounge within the Phoenicia Hotel (Valletta), is offering a rare glimpse into the private collection of an avid art enthusiast.

The common thread tying all these artworks together is Malta, as each of the artists or artworks is somehow connected to the islands or has a meaningful connection to the collector.

The exhibition showcases a diverse array of artworks that span various periods, styles, and mediums. One of the noteworthy sections comprises several paintings of the Second World War, as seen through Maltese eyes. These are vivid paintings of submarines, a raid taking place in Siggiewi on Christmas Eve in 1942, a wartime parade at King’s Gate in Valletta, and scenes of Sliema Ferries and Ghar id-Dud, back in the day.

Artists featured in this collection include locals such as Carmelo Mangion, Raymond Pitré and Kenneth Zammit Tabona, as well as international artists like Emmanuel Levy, Peter Quinn and Joël Circhanski-Deleuze.

The collection also includes paintings by women who were active artists in the early 20th century, many of whom were unfortunately undocumented and forgotten. An effort is being made through this collection to rediscover these female artists and make their work known. One such artist is listed as G. Castaldi, known to have been active in the 1920s and 1930s, and was a student of the famous Maltese painter, Edward Caruana Dingli.

This exhibition is curated by Dr Charlene Vella, and provides visitors the opportunity to not only admire unique paintings but also to gain insight into the art of collecting that makes each piece so significant.

Will you be visiting ‘Through the Eyes of a Collector’ this month?