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The Boy Who Bit Picasso

Antony Penrose first met Picasso as a child when the artist visited the Penrose family home in East Sussex in 1950. They became instant friends and invented their own boisterous games. In the excitement Antony bit Picasso, but it did not spoil the friendship and during the many visits he made to Picasso’s homes in France Antony felt very much at home. He loved the menagerie of pets – the live ones and those Picasso made as sculptures that seemed alive. Antony’s parents were Roland Penrose, the curator and biographer of Picasso, and Lee Miller, the photographer.

From Downton to Gatsby - Jewellery & Fashion from 1890 to 1929

DFASinMalta has the good fortune to have Andrew Prince for the opening lecture of our new season.  Interested in jewellery at an early age, Andrew started work in London's Bond Street, working for the Antiques Roadshow expert Ian Harris.  Under his guidance, Prince developed an appreciation for jewels that were valued for their quality of design and craftsmanship, rather than for how much the stones in the piece were worth.  Private commissions then started to trickle in, one thing led to another, and Andrew's jewellery began appearing in film.  His creations have graced Mrs Henderson P

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From Downton to Gatsby - Jewellery & Fashion from 1890 to 1929

For the series Downton Abbey, Andrew Prince was commissioned to produce many jewels for the main characters.  This inspired him to create a talk based on Downton and the changing styles of the time portrayed.  The great fashion houses collaborated with the finest of jewelers of the period to produce works of art of outstanding quality and glittering opulence.  The Arts Society of Malta has the good fortune to have Mr Prince for the opening lecture of our new season.  Our lecture will be at the Salini Resort, St Paul’s Bay at 6.30pm.  The lecture is free for members and ope

National Archives Conservation Project 2018

This year DFASinMalta chose to help the National Archives in Rabat to conserve part of the collection of Vincenzo Mario Pellegrini, donated to the archives by his son, Gabriel Pellegrini.  Vincenzo Maria Pellegrini (1911-1997) was a particularly erudite notary who contributed to the Maltese cultural scene with a number of articles, compositions of music and poetry as well as his own artistic compositions.  He collected the works of his artist friends and was very involved in the contemporary Maltese cultural environment.

Young Arts Project

DFASinMalta has embarked on a new project this season, The Young Arts Project. Students attending the School of Art have been chosen to participate in this project which has been included as part of their curriculum.The students attended a presentation at the Notarial Archives, encouraging them to design an art work in relation to the subject 'pastepaper' or 'decorative paper'. 

Notarial Archives Sends its Thanks

The Notarial Archives Resource Council has sent a certificate thanking DFASinMalta for its contribution towards restoring decorated end papers on documents dating from 1821 and 1829.  Dr. Joan Abela, Ph.D., and Dr. Keith German, B.A., L.L.D., signed the certificate, in recognition of our efforts to help preserve the paper heritage for future generations.

Judging a book by its cover

DFASinMalta is a member of The Arts Society.  Malta’s first own Decorative and Fine Arts Society was keen to raise awareness about the special covers and set the example by sponsoring the conservation treatment of three volumes.  In spite of being taught not to judge a book by its cover, this is exactly what is sometimes done at the Notarial Archives. While the content of a volume remained important to researchers, the beauty of a decorated paper cover was apparent to anyone at first glance.

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Season 2016-2017

Women and Freemasonry with Yasha Beresiner

The 2017 lecture season for DFASinMalta has now come to an end.  All our lectures were well-attended and very well-received, thanks to all of you, our members. 

We hope to see you all next year at the Salini Hotel for an exciting new season of delightful lectures.

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A message from our Chairman

Dear Members,

NADFAS have advised us about the new name for the association which is part of the rebranding exercise that is taking place at the moment. This also coincides with the 50th Golden Anniversary in 2018.
On the 23rd January 2017 the new name was announced and as from next May The ‘National Association of the Decorative and Fine Arts Societies', will be known as ‘The Arts Society’. The link below will give you an insight into how the new name was chosen. There will also be further information in the spring issue of the NADFAS Review Magazine.

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