Antonio Buhagiar 1906-1998

Antonio Buhagiar does not normally feature in accounts of Maltese 20th century art. The prevalent idea is that he was too marginal an artist to warrant a mention. Those familiar with him generally associate him with the ecclesiastical decorative arts in which field he was an undisputed master, but they often confuse his work with that of his better-known father, Emanuele. He was also a good sculptor and a gifted painter whose drawings reveal a sound academic formation and a secure, confident hand. The author of the book, Mario Buhagiar, is a Professor of History of Art and Head of the Delpartment of History of Art at the University of Malta